A-bomb survivor remodeling home to create space to convey Hiroshima’s message to international visitors
Nov. 13, 2015
by Yuji Yamamoto, Staff Writer
Toshiko Tanaka, 77, an enameling artist and resident of Higashi Ward, Hiroshima, who has shared her A-bomb experience with others at home and abroad, will relate her A-bomb account overseas for the last time in Italy, which she will travel to on November 4. She points to her “physical limits” in deciding to make this her final trip abroad. Instead of traveling overseas, she will remodel her home to create a space where international visitors seeking to learn about the A-bombed city of Hiroshima can discuss peace issues with one another or with local residents. The remodeling work is scheduled to be completed next spring. Ms. Tanaka will then continue her activities from her hometown, forming a circle of people who will work together to promote peace.
At the end of making a round-the-world voyage on Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization, this past March, Ms. Tanaka felt that “It might be difficult for me to travel abroad in the future to speak.” This was because of sharper pain in her left knee, for which she underwent surgery 13 years ago after a fall. She has suffered inflammation in this knee for the past few years, and has had trouble walking. She now uses a cane when she leaves the house. During her travels with Peace Boat, she endured this pain while conveying her horrific story of the atomic bombing.
Ms. Tanaka was just six when she experienced the atomic bombing at a location about 2.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. For many years she was unable to face her sorrowful memories, but after turning 70 she finally began to share her A-bomb experience with others. She took part in three Peace Boat voyages, telling her story of the atomic bombing in more than 10 countries. She now shares her account in English, having practiced long and hard with the hope that her message can touch the hearts of her listeners directly. Although her body has weakened, her conviction that Hiroshima has a mission to promote peace has never wavered.
Pondering how she could continue to support this mission from Hiroshima, she came up with the idea of turning her home into a place where visitors from overseas can learn about peace and interact with Hiroshima citizens.
The 60-square-meter first floor of her home, which includes her studio, will be revamped into a communication space for peace. She will also exhibit her works on the theme of peace in this space. She hopes that international visitors will drop in to drink coffee or make cloisonne ware before leaving the city by train, since her house is located just five minutes from Hiroshima station by car. In this way, they can engage in communication with others and deepen their understanding of Hiroshima and its message. Ms. Tanaka will also create a tatami-mat room for visitors to rest, through her home will not provide overnight accommodations. By request, she will also continue to present her A-bomb account.
Local residents will also be able to use the new space for free. Ms. Tanaka is using the money she has saved for her elder years to remodel the house, and she will continue to devote her days to peace. After the renovation is complete, she will open the space next March and seek volunteer staff to help her run the service.
Ms. Tanaka will stay in Italy, her last destination abroad for speaking about her A-bomb experience, until November 15. She will take part in an anti-nuclear event to be held in connection with the 70th anniversary year of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She will speak about her experience in five cities, among them Pisa and Florence, and her lectures will include a presentation to physics researchers. “We need to keep promoting peace without pause,” Ms. Tanaka said. “In Italy, I’d like to give my A-bomb account as the culmination of what I’ve experienced to date, and share my wish for nuclear abolition with people beyond national borders.”
(Originally published on November 2, 2015)
Toshiko Tanaka, 77, an enameling artist and resident of Higashi Ward, Hiroshima, who has shared her A-bomb experience with others at home and abroad, will relate her A-bomb account overseas for the last time in Italy, which she will travel to on November 4. She points to her “physical limits” in deciding to make this her final trip abroad. Instead of traveling overseas, she will remodel her home to create a space where international visitors seeking to learn about the A-bombed city of Hiroshima can discuss peace issues with one another or with local residents. The remodeling work is scheduled to be completed next spring. Ms. Tanaka will then continue her activities from her hometown, forming a circle of people who will work together to promote peace.
At the end of making a round-the-world voyage on Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization, this past March, Ms. Tanaka felt that “It might be difficult for me to travel abroad in the future to speak.” This was because of sharper pain in her left knee, for which she underwent surgery 13 years ago after a fall. She has suffered inflammation in this knee for the past few years, and has had trouble walking. She now uses a cane when she leaves the house. During her travels with Peace Boat, she endured this pain while conveying her horrific story of the atomic bombing.
Ms. Tanaka was just six when she experienced the atomic bombing at a location about 2.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. For many years she was unable to face her sorrowful memories, but after turning 70 she finally began to share her A-bomb experience with others. She took part in three Peace Boat voyages, telling her story of the atomic bombing in more than 10 countries. She now shares her account in English, having practiced long and hard with the hope that her message can touch the hearts of her listeners directly. Although her body has weakened, her conviction that Hiroshima has a mission to promote peace has never wavered.
Pondering how she could continue to support this mission from Hiroshima, she came up with the idea of turning her home into a place where visitors from overseas can learn about peace and interact with Hiroshima citizens.
The 60-square-meter first floor of her home, which includes her studio, will be revamped into a communication space for peace. She will also exhibit her works on the theme of peace in this space. She hopes that international visitors will drop in to drink coffee or make cloisonne ware before leaving the city by train, since her house is located just five minutes from Hiroshima station by car. In this way, they can engage in communication with others and deepen their understanding of Hiroshima and its message. Ms. Tanaka will also create a tatami-mat room for visitors to rest, through her home will not provide overnight accommodations. By request, she will also continue to present her A-bomb account.
Local residents will also be able to use the new space for free. Ms. Tanaka is using the money she has saved for her elder years to remodel the house, and she will continue to devote her days to peace. After the renovation is complete, she will open the space next March and seek volunteer staff to help her run the service.
Ms. Tanaka will stay in Italy, her last destination abroad for speaking about her A-bomb experience, until November 15. She will take part in an anti-nuclear event to be held in connection with the 70th anniversary year of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She will speak about her experience in five cities, among them Pisa and Florence, and her lectures will include a presentation to physics researchers. “We need to keep promoting peace without pause,” Ms. Tanaka said. “In Italy, I’d like to give my A-bomb account as the culmination of what I’ve experienced to date, and share my wish for nuclear abolition with people beyond national borders.”
(Originally published on November 2, 2015)
