Yasukazu Narahara, a Tokyo resident, serves as Peace Volunteer in Hiroshima
Jan. 21, 2014
Seeks to be a “bridge” to hand down A-bomb experiences
Yasukazu Narahara, 38, is an office worker and one of roughly 190 members of the Hiroshima Peace Volunteers who serve as guides at Peace Memorial Museum, located in the city center. While working at a department store, he takes part in guide activities each month, traveling from Tokyo, farther than any other member of the group. I interviewed him to learn his impressions and aims regarding his volunteer role.
Mr. Narahara was born and raised in Tokyo. When he was a freshman in college, he visited Hiroshima for the first time and listened to the account of an A-bomb survivor. This was the beginning of Mr. Narahara’s connection to Hiroshima. At the time, the A-bomb survivor said, “I want this sad event to be handed down to others. Everyone, please do something to promote peace.”
Since responding, “I’ll do what I can,” he has visited Hiroshima every year on August 6, the anniversary of the atomic bombing, and he joined a study group involving peace issues. But he came to feel, “I’m just studying. I’m not doing anything to hand down what happened.” At that point, he heard about the Hiroshima Peace Volunteers and he promptly applied. He began serving as a Peace Volunteer in 2009.
When he guides visitors through Peace Memorial Museum, he tries not only to provide accurate information about the bombing, but also to convey the sentiments of the A-bomb survivors. For example, before a panel about A-bomb orphans, he shares a story he heard directly from an A-bomb survivor who lost his parents. To children visiting the museum, he asks, “How would you feel if you were in this situation?” He wants the children to put themselves in the orphans’ shoes and imagine the cruelty of the atomic bombing.
As for his future goals, Mr. Narahara said that he would like to “be a bridge between Hiroshima and Tokyo.” He wants to pursue such activities as offering advice to others on places to visit to study peace and establishing a “branch” of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Tokyo.
Because he doesn’t want to leave his promise to the A-bomb survivor unfulfilled, he continues to make these efforts. I felt his determination clearly. As a member of the last generation able to listen directly to the experiences of the A-bomb survivors, I want to take in their thoughts and convey them to others. (Shiho Fujii, 12)
(Originally published on January 13, 2014)
