Ringing for Peace: A mindful moment in Cupertino

On August 6, 2025, the gentle sound of bells rang through Memorial Park in Cupertino as the community gathered for the annual Bell Ringing for World Peace ceremony.

Organized by the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities program and the City of Cupertino, the event marked eighty years of peace between Japan and the United States. It was a moment to honor the lives lost in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Toyokawa, and to reflect on the journey from conflict to friendship.

The ceremony began at 6:00 p.m., chosen to coincide with the time of the bombing in Toyokawa. Bells were rung across the country in unison, creating a shared space for remembrance and hope. It was a quiet, powerful gesture that invited reflection on the fragility of peace and the strength it takes to preserve it.

Having lived in Japan, I felt a deep personal connection to the ceremony. It reminded me of the quiet mindfulness that is woven into everyday life there, the way small acts can carry deep meaning, and how stillness can be a form of respect.

Standing among others in Cupertino, I felt grateful for the peace we enjoy today and for the bridges built between cultures that were once divided by war.

Mindfulness in this context is about more than being present. It is about being aware of history, of the pain and resilience that shaped it, and of the responsibility we share to nurture peace in our communities. The bell ringing was a gentle call to remember, to honor, and to recommit ourselves to compassion and understanding.

In a world that often moves too quickly, this ceremony offered a pause. It was a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much further we can go when we choose empathy over division. For me, it was a moment of quiet gratitude; for peace, for connection, and for the enduring hope that we can continue to build a more mindful and humane future.