On September 5, 2025, Portsmouth will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, which officially ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. This landmark treaty, facilitated by President Theodore Roosevelt, is being commemorated with a series of events aimed at highlighting the importance of citizen diplomacy in achieving peace.
The celebrations will kick off with a special screening of the documentary “An Uncommon Commitment to Peace, 2005-2025,” featuring interviews with 22 members of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Anniversary Committee (PPTAC). This free event is set for September 3 at 18:00 in the Levenson Room of the Portsmouth Public Library.
On September 4, Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern will welcome a delegation from the Nichinan Mayor’s Office in Japan, which includes notable figures such as Mayor Toru Takahashi and City Council President Koichiro Kitagawa. Their visit underscores the ongoing friendship between Portsmouth and its Sister City, Nichinan, established to foster international relations.
The main commemorative activities will take place on the anniversary itself, September 5. At 15:15 in Market Square, Governor Chris Sununu will read the Governor’s Proclamation of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day. This proclamation marks the exact moment the treaty was signed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where the negotiations had been held.
The highlight of the day will be a community bellringing at 15:47, the precise time the treaty was signed in 1905. Churches and community organizations across the Seacoast region will participate, including:
– Middle Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth
– Christ Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
– North Congregational Church, Portsmouth
– Second Christian Congregational United Church, Kittery
– St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
– Unitarian Universalist (South) Church, Portsmouth
– First United Methodist Church, Portsmouth
– Temple Israel, Portsmouth (which will sound the shofar)
– Wentworth By the Sea Hotel, New Castle
– Portsmouth Historical Society John Paul Jones House
– Strawbery Banke Museum
– Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
Additionally, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry tree sites in various New Hampshire towns, including Dublin, Hanover, and Manchester, will observe the day.
Charles B. Doleac, chair of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum and president of the Japan-America Society of New Hampshire, emphasized the significance of these events. “People-to-people connections that make a difference are the central idea of citizen diplomacy and the focus of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day,” he stated. Doleac highlighted how the local community played a critical role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for the 1905 negotiations between Russia and Japan.
The bellringing serves as a powerful reminder of the local citizens’ contributions to achieving peace. Participating in this historical commemoration allows residents to reflect on their community’s role in shaping international relations and the lasting impact of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty.
For more information about the events and the history of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, visit PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org.
