Volunteer hairdressers serve hospital patients for 55 years
Aug. 8, 2012
“New Futaba,” a hair salon located in Minami Ward, Hiroshima, has been sending volunteer hairdressers to the Hiroshima Red Cross and Atomic Bomb Survivors Hospital in Naka Ward every year since 1957. The hairdressers provide free haircuts and permanents to patients before the New Year’s holiday in January and the Bon holiday in mid-August. The service began when the late owner of the salon, Yoriko Oki, was hospitalized there herself. Miss Oki, an A-bomb survivor as well, had one of her hairdressers visit the hospital to cut her hair. When other patients expressed envy, she conceived the idea of starting the free hairdressing service.
The hair salon has already visited the hospital more than 100 times, and each time they provide haircuts to about 40 patients. The current owner of the salon, Kinuko Oki, 64, has been visiting the hospital for more than 30 years. At first, the visits were painful for her because she was reminded of the time her mother spent in the hospital. Now, however, she enjoys chatting with the patients while cutting their hair. Some of the patients even shed tears of joy.
“I’d like to continue providing this service, even if the hospital has only one patient,” Ms. Oki said. (Saya Teranishi, 15, and Yuji Iguchi, 14)
(Originally published on April 16, 2012)
The hair salon has already visited the hospital more than 100 times, and each time they provide haircuts to about 40 patients. The current owner of the salon, Kinuko Oki, 64, has been visiting the hospital for more than 30 years. At first, the visits were painful for her because she was reminded of the time her mother spent in the hospital. Now, however, she enjoys chatting with the patients while cutting their hair. Some of the patients even shed tears of joy.
“I’d like to continue providing this service, even if the hospital has only one patient,” Ms. Oki said. (Saya Teranishi, 15, and Yuji Iguchi, 14)
(Originally published on April 16, 2012)
