NPO in Hiroshima builds “Hiroshima House” in Cambodia, supports nation’s reconstruction
Feb. 10, 2014
The Association for Exchange Between Hiroshima Citizens and Cambodians, an NPO based in Naka Ward, has built a facility called “Hiroshima House” in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
The NPO behind the construction and running of Hiroshima House began their interactions with the Cambodian people in 1994, when the Asian Games were held in Hiroshima and they lent support to the Cambodian athletes. Since that time, the group has continued their exchange with the people of Cambodia.
Cambodia suffered a civil war, and genocide, where scores of people were killed. With a wish for the country’s reconstruction, the group in Hiroshima began building a large, four-story building since 1995. Raising funds from Hiroshima citizens, they completed and opened the facility in 2007.
The building contains a library for children, which opened in 2010. With the cooperation of local people, Japanese picture books were translated into Khmer, the Cambodian language. In all, there are 850 books, including Cambodian picture books, traditional Japanese tales like “Momotaro” (“Peach Boy”), and some stories about the atomic bombing, such as “Okorijizo” (“The Angry Jizo”). Hidetoshi Ito, 70, a member of the group and a resident of Kure, conceived the idea of the library. “I hope the picture books will put smiles on the faces of Cambodian children when they read them.”
In the future, the group plans to establish a permanent exhibition at Hiroshima House to convey the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the civil war that took place in Cambodia. Tomohiko Hirano, 75, the secretary general of the NPO and a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “I’d like people in Cambodia to know about Hiroshima’s reconstruction after the atomic bombing. I think it would encourage them.”
I hope to learn more about the history of Cambodia, including the genocide there, and interact with the Cambodian people. (Kantaro Matsuo, 15)
(Originally published on February 3, 2014)
The NPO behind the construction and running of Hiroshima House began their interactions with the Cambodian people in 1994, when the Asian Games were held in Hiroshima and they lent support to the Cambodian athletes. Since that time, the group has continued their exchange with the people of Cambodia.
Cambodia suffered a civil war, and genocide, where scores of people were killed. With a wish for the country’s reconstruction, the group in Hiroshima began building a large, four-story building since 1995. Raising funds from Hiroshima citizens, they completed and opened the facility in 2007.
The building contains a library for children, which opened in 2010. With the cooperation of local people, Japanese picture books were translated into Khmer, the Cambodian language. In all, there are 850 books, including Cambodian picture books, traditional Japanese tales like “Momotaro” (“Peach Boy”), and some stories about the atomic bombing, such as “Okorijizo” (“The Angry Jizo”). Hidetoshi Ito, 70, a member of the group and a resident of Kure, conceived the idea of the library. “I hope the picture books will put smiles on the faces of Cambodian children when they read them.”
In the future, the group plans to establish a permanent exhibition at Hiroshima House to convey the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the civil war that took place in Cambodia. Tomohiko Hirano, 75, the secretary general of the NPO and a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “I’d like people in Cambodia to know about Hiroshima’s reconstruction after the atomic bombing. I think it would encourage them.”
I hope to learn more about the history of Cambodia, including the genocide there, and interact with the Cambodian people. (Kantaro Matsuo, 15)
(Originally published on February 3, 2014)
