U.S. Ambassador to Japan meets with Shigeaki Mori, man who researched American military POWs killed in A-bombing, thanks him for his courage
Mar. 27, 2022
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
Prior to his March 26 visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in the city’s Naka Ward, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel met with Shigeaki Mori, 84, an A-bomb survivor who lives in Nishi Ward. Over many years, Mr. Mori has persisted in his study of the fate of captured U.S. soldiers killed in the atomic bombing. The ambassador conveyed his appreciation for Mr. Mori’s efforts to uncover the facts surrounding the U.S. soldiers’ deaths in the atomic bombing and to communicate with the bereaved families of the soldiers.
According to Mr. Mori, Mr. Emanuel and his wife had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Mori at a Hiroshima restaurant that lasted about an hour, starting shortly after noon that day. Through an interpreter, Mr. Mori explained the activities in which he was engaged while a company employee, such as looking into the U.S. soldiers who were killed in the bombing, identifying the surviving families, and sharing the information about the soldiers with the families. Mr. Mori presented the ambassador with a piece of a crashed fighter jet that carried the U.S. soldiers before they were captured and became prisoners of war.
Reflecting on the meeting with the U.S. ambassador, Mr. Mori said, “I worked this hard based on the idea that the deaths in the atomic bombing of the soldiers from the United States, Japan’s enemy at the time, were symbols of the tragedy. I was pleased that Mr. Emanuel recognized my efforts and expressed gratitude that, because of my work, the reality of the situation wasn’t forever buried.”
Mr. Emanuel posted a message on Twitter after the meeting with Mr. Mori. It read, “There is a lot that I have seen and discussed during my time in Japan, but it's hard to find the words that capture my feelings after today's meeting with Shigeaki Mori. Thank you, Mr. Mori, for your courage.” In May 2016, Mr. Mori met with former U.S. President Barack Obama when the president visited Hiroshima. The scene of the two embracing in the park also drew considerable attention from the American public.
(Originally published on March 27, 2022)
Prior to his March 26 visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in the city’s Naka Ward, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel met with Shigeaki Mori, 84, an A-bomb survivor who lives in Nishi Ward. Over many years, Mr. Mori has persisted in his study of the fate of captured U.S. soldiers killed in the atomic bombing. The ambassador conveyed his appreciation for Mr. Mori’s efforts to uncover the facts surrounding the U.S. soldiers’ deaths in the atomic bombing and to communicate with the bereaved families of the soldiers.
According to Mr. Mori, Mr. Emanuel and his wife had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Mori at a Hiroshima restaurant that lasted about an hour, starting shortly after noon that day. Through an interpreter, Mr. Mori explained the activities in which he was engaged while a company employee, such as looking into the U.S. soldiers who were killed in the bombing, identifying the surviving families, and sharing the information about the soldiers with the families. Mr. Mori presented the ambassador with a piece of a crashed fighter jet that carried the U.S. soldiers before they were captured and became prisoners of war.
Reflecting on the meeting with the U.S. ambassador, Mr. Mori said, “I worked this hard based on the idea that the deaths in the atomic bombing of the soldiers from the United States, Japan’s enemy at the time, were symbols of the tragedy. I was pleased that Mr. Emanuel recognized my efforts and expressed gratitude that, because of my work, the reality of the situation wasn’t forever buried.”
Mr. Emanuel posted a message on Twitter after the meeting with Mr. Mori. It read, “There is a lot that I have seen and discussed during my time in Japan, but it's hard to find the words that capture my feelings after today's meeting with Shigeaki Mori. Thank you, Mr. Mori, for your courage.” In May 2016, Mr. Mori met with former U.S. President Barack Obama when the president visited Hiroshima. The scene of the two embracing in the park also drew considerable attention from the American public.
(Originally published on March 27, 2022)
