Group donates rakes and brooms to tidy Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Jan. 30, 2014
A group of residents in the Shiraki district, located in Asakita Ward, have been donating hand-made bamboo rakes and brooms to the City of Hiroshima since 2010 with the hope that these tools will be of good use in keeping Peace Memorial Park tidy.
With the thought of comforting the souls of the A-bomb victims in mind, six members of the group, ranging in age from their 60s to their 80s, make rakes and brooms by hand. Using bamboo that grows in their area, they pursue this work mainly in February and March, when the snowy fields prevent farming. It takes about two hours to make one of these tools.
Last year, they donated 170 rakes and 30 brooms, and, to date, have given the city a total of 1,677 rakes and brooms. Students visiting Hiroshima on school trips use them to help clean up Peace Memorial Park as volunteers.
One member of the group, Yukimitsu Tanioka, 82, was 14 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. At the time, he lived in the city of Miyoshi [north of Hiroshima], and he took part in the relief efforts, helping those who were victims of the bombing. “I can’t forget how awful their injuries were,” Mr. Tanioka said. “As long as I have enough strength, I’ll continue doing what I can.”
Toshiyuki Nagai, 68, the leader of the group, was in his mother’s womb when the A-bomb attack occurred. “Peace Memorial Park is an important place, visited by people from all over the world,” he said, with conviction. “As a resident of Hiroshima, I want to make a contribution to the city.”
To today’s young people, Mr. Nagai has this message: “Thanks to those who suffered through the atomic bombing, we now have peace. I hope you appreciate this, and will think of helping others.” (Ishin Nakahara, 15)
(Originally Published on January 27, 2014)
With the thought of comforting the souls of the A-bomb victims in mind, six members of the group, ranging in age from their 60s to their 80s, make rakes and brooms by hand. Using bamboo that grows in their area, they pursue this work mainly in February and March, when the snowy fields prevent farming. It takes about two hours to make one of these tools.
Last year, they donated 170 rakes and 30 brooms, and, to date, have given the city a total of 1,677 rakes and brooms. Students visiting Hiroshima on school trips use them to help clean up Peace Memorial Park as volunteers.
One member of the group, Yukimitsu Tanioka, 82, was 14 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. At the time, he lived in the city of Miyoshi [north of Hiroshima], and he took part in the relief efforts, helping those who were victims of the bombing. “I can’t forget how awful their injuries were,” Mr. Tanioka said. “As long as I have enough strength, I’ll continue doing what I can.”
Toshiyuki Nagai, 68, the leader of the group, was in his mother’s womb when the A-bomb attack occurred. “Peace Memorial Park is an important place, visited by people from all over the world,” he said, with conviction. “As a resident of Hiroshima, I want to make a contribution to the city.”
To today’s young people, Mr. Nagai has this message: “Thanks to those who suffered through the atomic bombing, we now have peace. I hope you appreciate this, and will think of helping others.” (Ishin Nakahara, 15)
(Originally Published on January 27, 2014)
