The Peace Statue in Nagasaki's Peace Park symbolizes hope as the city reflects on the 79th anniversary of its atomic bombing on August 9, 1945. Recently, during a visit in sweltering conditions, I arrived at The Nagasaki Shimbun building, notable for its “No War” monument.
Upon entering, I was guided to the editorial department's sixth floor, where three cardboard boxes awaited on a desk. After wiping my brow and shaking off the heat, I eagerly opened one of the boxes. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and The Nagasaki Shimbun had collaborated with other news outlets to conduct a survey of hibakusha, gathering over 3,500 responses.
My purpose in visiting Nagasaki was to physically hold these responses, written by survivors who expressed passionate pleas for peace. One hibakusha declared, "There is no justice in war," while another emphasized, "Nuclear weapons and humans cannot co-exist." There were poignant statements warning that no city should ever endure the horrors of atomic bombing again.
As I carefully traced each handwritten character with my fingertip, I was struck by the average age of the hibakusha, which now exceeds 86. Some survivors had difficulty writing, yet they persevered to communicate their thoughts. A moving moment came when a 91-year-old woman, writing with her left hand after a stroke, humbly acknowledged her struggle with the words "Please forgive this scrawl."
Emphasizing the weight of their past, one individual, concerned about potential discrimination, shared, “I still can’t tell anyone that I’m a hibakusha.” Many others still grapple with long-standing health issues related to the bombing. Yoshiki Yamada, the managing editor at The Nagasaki Shimbun and a second-generation hibakusha, highlighted the continuing fear that lingers in the community, asking, "How long will those weapons keep affecting people?"
I was deeply engrossed in the task of reading these heartfelt responses, losing track of time in the process. After expressing my gratitude, I stepped out of the building. The words "No War" on the memorial appeared to resonate more profoundly than before, and as the gentle sea breeze enveloped me, I felt a renewed sense of hope.
5 Comments
Katchuka
We need more of this - stories that promote understanding and empathy.
Noir Black
The "No War" message resonates deeply. Peace is paramount.
Katchuka
This is just virtue signaling. No mention of why the bomb was dropped.
Loubianka
It's imperative that we learn from the past to avoid future tragedies.
KittyKat
Absolutely devastating. We have to work for a nuclear-free world.