Contributions from people overseas who are sharing the message of Hiroshima

(4)Terror in New York and empathy from Hiroshimaby Asuka Morinaga

Americans often have parties in their homes. When I go to a party, the first question someone usually asks after they learn I'm Japanese is "What city are you from?"

The gathering in New York of people from Hiroshima (February 16, 2007)

Asuka Morinaga

Born in Hiroshima in 1973. In high school, she belonged to the drama club and was involved in a play about the atomic bomb. She studied in New York from 2001 to 2003 and witnessed the September 11 attack. She moved to New York in 2005 with the goal of working in professional theater.

When I reply, "I'm from Hiroshima," they always express interest. After Tokyo, Hiroshima is probably the most famous city in Japan. Then they ask me, "Was your family okay? It was a very hard time, wasn't it?" Although it's true that my grandparents experienced the war, I was born after Hiroshima had been rebuilt so I'm not sure how to respond.

Last February, there was a gathering of people from Hiroshima who now live in New York. I had a chance to meet 45 people, including students, teachers, company presidents, and musicians. We took part in a quiz game about Hiroshima and a TV personality, Yu Aihara, also made an appearance. When the president of a real estate agency gave a speech, he made a comment about war and it struck me that the people of Hiroshima are especially sensitive to this word.

In fact, many Japanese residents of New York-and particularly, people from Hiroshima-are keen to take part in peace activities. For instance, a temple with a Japanese priest holds silent prayers on August 6th(the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima) and 15th(Japanese surrender in World War 竇｡). And another person organizes screenings of movies with peace-related themes.

Five years ago, when the terrorist attack occurred, I was in New York and I witnessed the burning buildings from the bus I was riding in on my way to school. With my own eyes and my own heart, I felt the deep sorrow the city was experiencing. And I think this empathy can be traced to growing up in Hiroshima and being engaged in peace education.

I recall the words of someone who lost family in the attack: "To us, five years is just a number. We'll always be faced with accepting a life that has changed completely."

To me, 62 years seems like a long time, but it may be just a number to survivors of the atomic bomb, survivors of war. As Hiroshima is my hometown, I must learn more and share more with the people of New York.