Song by Yasuhiko Shigemura, Hiroshima musician, tells of suffering, recovery after A-bombing with aim of sharing tragedy among people in U.S., Japan
Mar. 28, 2022
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
Yasuhiko Shigemura, a musician based in Tokyo who is originally from Hiroshima City, has created a song titled “THE RIVER,” which depicts the devastation caused by the atomic bombing and the subsequent recovery of the city. As the song says, “There are things we must never forget; there are things we must pass on to future generations,” lyrics that reflect Mr. Shigemura’s desire to share such ‘things’ with everyone, transcending generational and national boundaries.
The song conveys the presence of voiceless A-bomb victims within such lyrics as, “There were people who vanished without knowing what happened.” It expresses the feelings of A-bomb survivors who have endured hardships including burn scars and discrimination by others and asks people to “listen to and pass on the stories of our recovery from that day.”
Mr. Shigemura was born in the village of Ama-cho, in neighboring Shimane Prefecture, but grew up in Hiroshima City. He belonged to the pop music band at Kanon High School, in Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward, debuting as a musician at the age of 21. In addition to his own musical activities, he was a producer for the folk band “19” in the 1990s. He has written countless songs for other musicians, including the vocalist Rimi Natsukawa. One of his other musical works, “Arigato” (Thank You, in English), is used as the opening song of concerts performed by the singer Mariko Takahashi, who is now on a nationwide tour of Japan.
“THE RIVER” is Mr. Shigemura’s first ballad describing Hiroshima’s atomic bombing. Visiting the United States every year starting in the 1980s to record his own music there, he has had the chance to interact deeply with Native Americans living on reservations in the U.S. state of New Mexico, an experience that inspired him to create the song.
Six years ago, when he accepted an offer from a local radio station to appear on a 60-minute program, the host fired numerous questions at him, including one concerning his feelings about the atomic bombing. Mr. Shigemura was unable to adequately respond. He said, “I truly felt then that there were so many things I didn’t know much about. I hesitated to speak at the time because I was wondering how I should describe the situation to the American people.” New Mexico is home to Los Alamos, the site at which atomic weapons were developed, and the Trinity Site, the location of the first A-bomb test in history.
Just after that visit to New Mexico, Mr. Shigemura’s acquaintance asked him to create a new song. While learning about the atomic bombing from “Genbaku no Zu” (The Hiroshima Panels, in English), a series of painted, folding panels created by the late Iri Maruki and his wife Toshi, as well as listening to A-bomb survivors’ stories about their experiences in the atomic bombing, Mr. Shigemura wrote the song’s lyrics over a period of five years.
Along with straightforward expressions, the song includes the lyrics, “I don’t want to talk about who is to blame, nor am I asking for atonement.” He wrote that phrasing because he believed that citizens of both Japan and the United States should first and foremost confront the tragic nature of the atomic bombing. “This song is composed of my answers to the questions I was asked at that time six years ago.” He has placed subtitles of the lyrics in English and Japanese in the song’s music video, which was produced by his acquaintance in Hiroshima.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, which recently invaded Ukraine, has implied his willingness to use nuclear weapons. Mr. Shigemura said, “I was so furious at his threat. I think now about how important it is to convey the message in my song.” When the coronavirus pandemic is contained, he hopes to perform the song in the United States. He also intends to perform the piece in Hiroshima.
Check out the music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAHczQZeuk.
(Originally published on March 28, 2022)
Yasuhiko Shigemura, a musician based in Tokyo who is originally from Hiroshima City, has created a song titled “THE RIVER,” which depicts the devastation caused by the atomic bombing and the subsequent recovery of the city. As the song says, “There are things we must never forget; there are things we must pass on to future generations,” lyrics that reflect Mr. Shigemura’s desire to share such ‘things’ with everyone, transcending generational and national boundaries.
The song conveys the presence of voiceless A-bomb victims within such lyrics as, “There were people who vanished without knowing what happened.” It expresses the feelings of A-bomb survivors who have endured hardships including burn scars and discrimination by others and asks people to “listen to and pass on the stories of our recovery from that day.”
Mr. Shigemura was born in the village of Ama-cho, in neighboring Shimane Prefecture, but grew up in Hiroshima City. He belonged to the pop music band at Kanon High School, in Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward, debuting as a musician at the age of 21. In addition to his own musical activities, he was a producer for the folk band “19” in the 1990s. He has written countless songs for other musicians, including the vocalist Rimi Natsukawa. One of his other musical works, “Arigato” (Thank You, in English), is used as the opening song of concerts performed by the singer Mariko Takahashi, who is now on a nationwide tour of Japan.
“THE RIVER” is Mr. Shigemura’s first ballad describing Hiroshima’s atomic bombing. Visiting the United States every year starting in the 1980s to record his own music there, he has had the chance to interact deeply with Native Americans living on reservations in the U.S. state of New Mexico, an experience that inspired him to create the song.
Six years ago, when he accepted an offer from a local radio station to appear on a 60-minute program, the host fired numerous questions at him, including one concerning his feelings about the atomic bombing. Mr. Shigemura was unable to adequately respond. He said, “I truly felt then that there were so many things I didn’t know much about. I hesitated to speak at the time because I was wondering how I should describe the situation to the American people.” New Mexico is home to Los Alamos, the site at which atomic weapons were developed, and the Trinity Site, the location of the first A-bomb test in history.
Just after that visit to New Mexico, Mr. Shigemura’s acquaintance asked him to create a new song. While learning about the atomic bombing from “Genbaku no Zu” (The Hiroshima Panels, in English), a series of painted, folding panels created by the late Iri Maruki and his wife Toshi, as well as listening to A-bomb survivors’ stories about their experiences in the atomic bombing, Mr. Shigemura wrote the song’s lyrics over a period of five years.
Along with straightforward expressions, the song includes the lyrics, “I don’t want to talk about who is to blame, nor am I asking for atonement.” He wrote that phrasing because he believed that citizens of both Japan and the United States should first and foremost confront the tragic nature of the atomic bombing. “This song is composed of my answers to the questions I was asked at that time six years ago.” He has placed subtitles of the lyrics in English and Japanese in the song’s music video, which was produced by his acquaintance in Hiroshima.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, which recently invaded Ukraine, has implied his willingness to use nuclear weapons. Mr. Shigemura said, “I was so furious at his threat. I think now about how important it is to convey the message in my song.” When the coronavirus pandemic is contained, he hopes to perform the song in the United States. He also intends to perform the piece in Hiroshima.
Check out the music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAHczQZeuk.
(Originally published on March 28, 2022)
