Piano connected to Akiko Futaba and displayed at A-bombed Piano Museum to be used for peace studies
Nov. 30, 2021
by Miho Kuwajima, Staff Writer
On November 29, a piano played in high school by Akiko Futaba, a singer born in Hiroshima City and an A-bomb survivor who died in 2011 at age 96, was put on display at the A-bombed Piano Museum, located in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward and operated by Mitsunori Yagawa, 69, a piano tuner. The piano will be used for peace studies in line with the wishes of Ms. Futaba’s bereaved family, owners of the piano.
The U.S.-made upright piano was affected by the atomic bombing while being kept in a private house in the area of Nishikanon-machi (now part of Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward), located about 1.8 kilometers from the hypocenter. The piano is inscribed with the word “EILERS” in gold and has an ivory keyboard.
The late Yasuko Nakamura, Ms. Futaba’s schoolmate at Hiroshima Prefectural First Girls’ High School (now Minami High School), received the piano as a present from her uncle that had emigrated to the United States and cherished it throughout her life. Ms. Futaba, who had aimed to get into the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), is said to have practiced on the piano diligently. Until recently, the piano had been preserved at a rental house owned by Ms. Nakamura while she was alive.
On the same day, November 29, professional movers carried the piano from the house and transported it to the A-bombed Piano Museum, located about 10 kilometers away, with Shoko Nakanishi, 80, the oldest daughter of Ms. Nakamura and a resident of Hiroshima’s Asakita Ward, watching over the work together with others. “I feel relieved that the best recipient was arranged for the piano. I believe my mother would have been happy about it, too,” said Ms. Nakanishi. Mr. Yagawa, the piano tuner, explained, “This is the first time for us to exhibit an A-bombed piano made overseas. I want to communicate the fact that, in the same way as humans did, a piano made in the United States experienced the atomic bombing.”
Along with the piano, Ms. Nakanishi donated musical scores that had escaped the fires at the time of the atomic bombing and a signature of Ms. Futaba. These items will also be exhibited at the museum.
(Originally published on November 30, 2021)
On November 29, a piano played in high school by Akiko Futaba, a singer born in Hiroshima City and an A-bomb survivor who died in 2011 at age 96, was put on display at the A-bombed Piano Museum, located in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward and operated by Mitsunori Yagawa, 69, a piano tuner. The piano will be used for peace studies in line with the wishes of Ms. Futaba’s bereaved family, owners of the piano.
The U.S.-made upright piano was affected by the atomic bombing while being kept in a private house in the area of Nishikanon-machi (now part of Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward), located about 1.8 kilometers from the hypocenter. The piano is inscribed with the word “EILERS” in gold and has an ivory keyboard.
The late Yasuko Nakamura, Ms. Futaba’s schoolmate at Hiroshima Prefectural First Girls’ High School (now Minami High School), received the piano as a present from her uncle that had emigrated to the United States and cherished it throughout her life. Ms. Futaba, who had aimed to get into the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), is said to have practiced on the piano diligently. Until recently, the piano had been preserved at a rental house owned by Ms. Nakamura while she was alive.
On the same day, November 29, professional movers carried the piano from the house and transported it to the A-bombed Piano Museum, located about 10 kilometers away, with Shoko Nakanishi, 80, the oldest daughter of Ms. Nakamura and a resident of Hiroshima’s Asakita Ward, watching over the work together with others. “I feel relieved that the best recipient was arranged for the piano. I believe my mother would have been happy about it, too,” said Ms. Nakanishi. Mr. Yagawa, the piano tuner, explained, “This is the first time for us to exhibit an A-bombed piano made overseas. I want to communicate the fact that, in the same way as humans did, a piano made in the United States experienced the atomic bombing.”
Along with the piano, Ms. Nakanishi donated musical scores that had escaped the fires at the time of the atomic bombing and a signature of Ms. Futaba. These items will also be exhibited at the museum.
(Originally published on November 30, 2021)
