Shigeaki Mori gives talk about investigating fate of American soldiers killed in A-bombing
Mar. 21, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
On March 20, Shigeaki Mori, 79, a local historian and A-bomb survivor living in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, gave a talk entitled “Fate of the A-bombed American Soldiers” at the Peace Memorial Museum in Naka Ward. Mr. Mori has spent many years investigating the 12 American soldiers who were captured as prisoners of war then lost their lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Speaking to an audience of about 150 Hiroshima citizens and others in attendance, he touched on the motivation for his efforts by saying, “I have pursued this investigation out of the desire that there will be no more victims like these men.”
“Enemies or not, it didn’t matter when it came to experiencing the cruelty of war,” he said firmly. “I was determined to let their family members know how they had died.” He also talked about the moment last May when he exchanged words with former President Barack Obama and the two men embraced during Mr. Obama’s visit to Hiroshima. Looking back, he said, “Tears came to my eyes when President Obama recognized the work I had been doing for several decades.”
Mr. Mori’s talk was organized by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. The documentary film Paper Lanterns, which features the interactions of Mr. Mori and family members of the American soldiers who were killed in the atomic bombing, was screened at the event, too.
Masaaki Fukushima, 73, a resident of Minami Ward and a Peace Volunteer at the museum, said, “Nationality has nothing to do with the sorrow felt by family members of a victim. His talk reminded me of how important it is that we never again wage war.”
(Originally published on March 21, 2017)
On March 20, Shigeaki Mori, 79, a local historian and A-bomb survivor living in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, gave a talk entitled “Fate of the A-bombed American Soldiers” at the Peace Memorial Museum in Naka Ward. Mr. Mori has spent many years investigating the 12 American soldiers who were captured as prisoners of war then lost their lives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Speaking to an audience of about 150 Hiroshima citizens and others in attendance, he touched on the motivation for his efforts by saying, “I have pursued this investigation out of the desire that there will be no more victims like these men.”
“Enemies or not, it didn’t matter when it came to experiencing the cruelty of war,” he said firmly. “I was determined to let their family members know how they had died.” He also talked about the moment last May when he exchanged words with former President Barack Obama and the two men embraced during Mr. Obama’s visit to Hiroshima. Looking back, he said, “Tears came to my eyes when President Obama recognized the work I had been doing for several decades.”
Mr. Mori’s talk was organized by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. The documentary film Paper Lanterns, which features the interactions of Mr. Mori and family members of the American soldiers who were killed in the atomic bombing, was screened at the event, too.
Masaaki Fukushima, 73, a resident of Minami Ward and a Peace Volunteer at the museum, said, “Nationality has nothing to do with the sorrow felt by family members of a victim. His talk reminded me of how important it is that we never again wage war.”
(Originally published on March 21, 2017)
