Young Japanese photographer from U.S. taking photos of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Jun. 16, 2017
by Eriko Shintani, Staff Writer
Haruka Sakaguchi, 27, a photographer from New York, has been taking photos of A-bomb survivors and second-generation survivors in the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Ms. Sakaguchi plans to display these portraits in the United States, along with similar photos taken in Nagasaki. She hopes that her exhibition of photos can help change public opinion in the United States, where the atomic bombings are justified with the argument that these attacks brought the war to a swifter end. She will remain in Hiroshima until June 20, seeking to photograph more A-bomb survivors and their offspring.
The portraits are black-and-white photos with a black backdrop. The subjects of the portraits are also contributing messages of peace that they wish to convey to younger generations. Ms. Sakaguchi will display both the portraits and messages, with their English translations, at the exhibition. Prior to this event, she will post some of the photos and messages online by early August, when the anniversaries of the atomic bombings are observed.
Ms. Sakaguchi was born in Osaka and moved to the United States with her parents when she was three months old. Though she learned about the atomic bombings in her history class in junior high school, she found that her textbook included only a few lines of description about them. She said, “The textbook said that the atomic bombings enabled Japan to abandon its militaristic past, but as someone with Japanese heritage, this wasn’t persuasive to me.”
About a year ago, as she was settling into her work as a professional photographer, she decided to pursue photos that could challenge U.S. justification for the atomic bombings. So she contacted a group of A-bomb survivors in Nagasaki and took portraits of eight survivors there this past April.
She arrived in Hiroshima on June 3 and then took part in a study session at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum so she could learn more about the actual conditions of the Hiroshima bombing. Sharing her hopes, she said, “The suffering caused by the atomic bombings is not a thing of the past. I’d like Americans to understand the survivors’ distress and the mixed emotions they have, as well as the fact that different survivors have different feelings.”
One second-generation A-bomb survivor who has agreed to take part is Keiko Okinishi, 52, a violist and resident of Asakita Ward. Ms. Okinishi’s mother experienced the atomic bombing in Nagasaki. Ms. Okinishi expressed her hopes by saying, “I’m very grateful and encouraged by the fact that young people like Ms. Sakaguchi are helping to convey the true conditions of the A-bomb survivors to the world.”
To lend your support to Ms. Sakaguchi’s work, please contact her by email at hsakag@gmail.com.
(Originally published on June 16, 2017)
Haruka Sakaguchi, 27, a photographer from New York, has been taking photos of A-bomb survivors and second-generation survivors in the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Ms. Sakaguchi plans to display these portraits in the United States, along with similar photos taken in Nagasaki. She hopes that her exhibition of photos can help change public opinion in the United States, where the atomic bombings are justified with the argument that these attacks brought the war to a swifter end. She will remain in Hiroshima until June 20, seeking to photograph more A-bomb survivors and their offspring.
The portraits are black-and-white photos with a black backdrop. The subjects of the portraits are also contributing messages of peace that they wish to convey to younger generations. Ms. Sakaguchi will display both the portraits and messages, with their English translations, at the exhibition. Prior to this event, she will post some of the photos and messages online by early August, when the anniversaries of the atomic bombings are observed.
Ms. Sakaguchi was born in Osaka and moved to the United States with her parents when she was three months old. Though she learned about the atomic bombings in her history class in junior high school, she found that her textbook included only a few lines of description about them. She said, “The textbook said that the atomic bombings enabled Japan to abandon its militaristic past, but as someone with Japanese heritage, this wasn’t persuasive to me.”
About a year ago, as she was settling into her work as a professional photographer, she decided to pursue photos that could challenge U.S. justification for the atomic bombings. So she contacted a group of A-bomb survivors in Nagasaki and took portraits of eight survivors there this past April.
She arrived in Hiroshima on June 3 and then took part in a study session at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum so she could learn more about the actual conditions of the Hiroshima bombing. Sharing her hopes, she said, “The suffering caused by the atomic bombings is not a thing of the past. I’d like Americans to understand the survivors’ distress and the mixed emotions they have, as well as the fact that different survivors have different feelings.”
One second-generation A-bomb survivor who has agreed to take part is Keiko Okinishi, 52, a violist and resident of Asakita Ward. Ms. Okinishi’s mother experienced the atomic bombing in Nagasaki. Ms. Okinishi expressed her hopes by saying, “I’m very grateful and encouraged by the fact that young people like Ms. Sakaguchi are helping to convey the true conditions of the A-bomb survivors to the world.”
To lend your support to Ms. Sakaguchi’s work, please contact her by email at hsakag@gmail.com.
(Originally published on June 16, 2017)
