A-bomb survivors share their accounts with U.S. high school students in New York
May 26, 2015
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
NEW YORK--On May 15, Toshiko Tanaka, 76, a resident of Higashi Ward, Hiroshima, and Lee Jong Keun, 86, a resident of Asa Minami Ward, talked about their experiences of the atomic bombing at a high school in New York City. The two A-bomb survivors sought to convey their desire for “a world free of nuclear weapons” to younger generations in the United States, the nuclear super power which dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. More than 400 students from five high schools listened intently to their words.
Ms. Tanaka was exposed to the atomic bomb on a street in Ushita-cho (now part of Higashi Ward) at the age of six. She was badly burned and hovered between life and death. She disclosed, “For a long time it has been painful for me to remember that day, and I couldn’t tell this story to my children. But now, I think it’s my responsibility to talk about my experiences to younger generations. I don’t want to see any more hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).” She talked in both Japanese and English, which she practiced to share her story.
Mr. Lee began by saying, “Foreign nationals also became victims of the atomic bombs. I’d like to represent their thoughts and feelings.” He is a second-generation Korean resident of Japan and was exposed to the atomic bomb on a street in Kojin-machi (Minami Ward). He was 16 at the time and was badly burned. Remembering the tears his mother cried as she removed maggots from his body, Mr. Lee said, “Our desire is to abolish all nuclear weapons. I’d like you, the young people who will lead the United States into the future, to help us create a world free of nuclear weapons.”
The students asked a series of questions, including “What should we do first for the abolition of nuclear weapons?” Musukan Kapoa, 16, who was meeting atomic bomb survivors for the first time, said in tears, “I was deeply moved by the survivors’ stories. Learning from their efforts, I’d like to help spread messages of peace throughout the world.”
In New York, the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), held every five years, is now taking place at United Nations headquarters. In conjunction with the conference, a local NGO called “HIBAKUSHA STORIES” invited nine survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including Ms. Tanaka and Mr. Lee, and held about 50 meetings at high schools and other venues in the city to listen to the experiences of A-bomb survivors.
(Originally published on May 17, 2015)
NEW YORK--On May 15, Toshiko Tanaka, 76, a resident of Higashi Ward, Hiroshima, and Lee Jong Keun, 86, a resident of Asa Minami Ward, talked about their experiences of the atomic bombing at a high school in New York City. The two A-bomb survivors sought to convey their desire for “a world free of nuclear weapons” to younger generations in the United States, the nuclear super power which dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. More than 400 students from five high schools listened intently to their words.
Ms. Tanaka was exposed to the atomic bomb on a street in Ushita-cho (now part of Higashi Ward) at the age of six. She was badly burned and hovered between life and death. She disclosed, “For a long time it has been painful for me to remember that day, and I couldn’t tell this story to my children. But now, I think it’s my responsibility to talk about my experiences to younger generations. I don’t want to see any more hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).” She talked in both Japanese and English, which she practiced to share her story.
Mr. Lee began by saying, “Foreign nationals also became victims of the atomic bombs. I’d like to represent their thoughts and feelings.” He is a second-generation Korean resident of Japan and was exposed to the atomic bomb on a street in Kojin-machi (Minami Ward). He was 16 at the time and was badly burned. Remembering the tears his mother cried as she removed maggots from his body, Mr. Lee said, “Our desire is to abolish all nuclear weapons. I’d like you, the young people who will lead the United States into the future, to help us create a world free of nuclear weapons.”
The students asked a series of questions, including “What should we do first for the abolition of nuclear weapons?” Musukan Kapoa, 16, who was meeting atomic bomb survivors for the first time, said in tears, “I was deeply moved by the survivors’ stories. Learning from their efforts, I’d like to help spread messages of peace throughout the world.”
In New York, the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), held every five years, is now taking place at United Nations headquarters. In conjunction with the conference, a local NGO called “HIBAKUSHA STORIES” invited nine survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including Ms. Tanaka and Mr. Lee, and held about 50 meetings at high schools and other venues in the city to listen to the experiences of A-bomb survivors.
(Originally published on May 17, 2015)
