A-bomb survivors seek follow-up action by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel in hopes that Hiroshima visit prompts improvement in nuclear crisis
Mar. 27, 2022
by Junji Akechi and Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writers
Amid a situation marked by the potential for Russia to use nuclear weapons after that country’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel made his first visit to Hiroshima. A previously scheduled trip by Mr. Emanuel to the city, cancelled due to the tensions that had arisen in Ukraine, came about ultimately because of his own desire to see Hiroshima. Together with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others, Mr. Emanuel toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, in the city’s Naka Ward. A-bomb survivors and others involved in the visit who welcomed him to Hiroshima voiced their expectation that the visit would lead to progress along the path to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
According to an explanation provided by Takuo Takigawa, director of the museum who guided the group while there, Mr. Emanuel intently took in the exhibits, including a paper crane that had been folded by former U.S. President Barack Obama on his visit to Hiroshima in 2016 as the first sitting U.S. president to do so, a photograph of a first-aid station that cared for victims of the bombing, and an exhibit that touched on the deaths of junior high school students who had been mobilized to work outside that day and were killed in the atomic bombing.
After the museum tour concluded, Mr. Emanuel wrote in a guestbook, “The lessons of Hiroshima must be our north star guiding us to a world free of war and open to peace.” Responding to questions from the media, he explained how he had become speechless from a well of emotions that arose within him while in the museum, and how he was unable to shake the exhibited images of children’s eyes looking back at the group of visitors.
Toshiko Kajimoto, 91, an A-bomb survivor and resident of Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward who is experienced in sharing her A-bombing experience with key figures from overseas, praised the ambassador’s visit. “I know there is a diversity of opinions in the United States as the nation that dropped the atomic bombs, but I appreciate that he has come all the way to Hiroshima despite that.” She added, “No one would fail to feel anything upon looking at the clothes of children killed in the atomic bombing. I hope Mr. Emanuel will share his impressions with U.S. President Joseph Biden,” revealing her expectation for a visit by Mr. Biden as the second U.S. sitting president to set foot in Hiroshima, following the first visit by Mr. Obama.
Hiroshi Harada, 82, former director of the museum and an A-bomb survivor living in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward, extended a request to Mr. Emanuel. “I wonder whether he was truly able to relate personally to the tragedy that was the atomic bombing. I want him to show his understanding through his actions.” Mr. Harada demanded that the ambassador make concrete efforts for nuclear abolition, especially given the current tensions internationally, referring to the fact that Mr. Obama had been unable to make significant progress toward the elimination of nuclear weapons after visiting Hiroshima.
As one of the young people who met with Mr. Kishida at the time of the visit, Ayako Hosokawa, 19, a resident of the city’s Asaminami Ward who will start college in April, said, “I hope the ambassador shares his impressions of his visit to Hiroshima,” in particular, she stressed, to younger generations.
(Originally published on March 27, 2022)
Amid a situation marked by the potential for Russia to use nuclear weapons after that country’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel made his first visit to Hiroshima. A previously scheduled trip by Mr. Emanuel to the city, cancelled due to the tensions that had arisen in Ukraine, came about ultimately because of his own desire to see Hiroshima. Together with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others, Mr. Emanuel toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, in the city’s Naka Ward. A-bomb survivors and others involved in the visit who welcomed him to Hiroshima voiced their expectation that the visit would lead to progress along the path to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
According to an explanation provided by Takuo Takigawa, director of the museum who guided the group while there, Mr. Emanuel intently took in the exhibits, including a paper crane that had been folded by former U.S. President Barack Obama on his visit to Hiroshima in 2016 as the first sitting U.S. president to do so, a photograph of a first-aid station that cared for victims of the bombing, and an exhibit that touched on the deaths of junior high school students who had been mobilized to work outside that day and were killed in the atomic bombing.
After the museum tour concluded, Mr. Emanuel wrote in a guestbook, “The lessons of Hiroshima must be our north star guiding us to a world free of war and open to peace.” Responding to questions from the media, he explained how he had become speechless from a well of emotions that arose within him while in the museum, and how he was unable to shake the exhibited images of children’s eyes looking back at the group of visitors.
Toshiko Kajimoto, 91, an A-bomb survivor and resident of Hiroshima’s Nishi Ward who is experienced in sharing her A-bombing experience with key figures from overseas, praised the ambassador’s visit. “I know there is a diversity of opinions in the United States as the nation that dropped the atomic bombs, but I appreciate that he has come all the way to Hiroshima despite that.” She added, “No one would fail to feel anything upon looking at the clothes of children killed in the atomic bombing. I hope Mr. Emanuel will share his impressions with U.S. President Joseph Biden,” revealing her expectation for a visit by Mr. Biden as the second U.S. sitting president to set foot in Hiroshima, following the first visit by Mr. Obama.
Hiroshi Harada, 82, former director of the museum and an A-bomb survivor living in Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward, extended a request to Mr. Emanuel. “I wonder whether he was truly able to relate personally to the tragedy that was the atomic bombing. I want him to show his understanding through his actions.” Mr. Harada demanded that the ambassador make concrete efforts for nuclear abolition, especially given the current tensions internationally, referring to the fact that Mr. Obama had been unable to make significant progress toward the elimination of nuclear weapons after visiting Hiroshima.
As one of the young people who met with Mr. Kishida at the time of the visit, Ayako Hosokawa, 19, a resident of the city’s Asaminami Ward who will start college in April, said, “I hope the ambassador shares his impressions of his visit to Hiroshima,” in particular, she stressed, to younger generations.
(Originally published on March 27, 2022)
