Hiroshima City starts accepting Family A-bomb Legacy Successor applications for conveying testimonies starting in 2024 with the aim of uncovering A-bomb experiences
Apr. 9, 2022
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
Amid a dwindling number of A-bomb survivors who can communicate their experiences in the atomic bombing due to the aging of that population, the Hiroshima City government will begin a new effort called the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors program. In the program, relatives of A-bomb survivors who have heard their family members’ experiences are expected to convey such stories on behalf of the survivors. The goal of the program is to try and uncover additional A-bomb experiences, with cooperation from survivors’ family members, and convey the stories to future generations. Applicants will undergo a two-year training period and begin communicating family members’ accounts of their A-bombing experiences in fiscal year 2024. The city began accepting applications for the first group of trainees on April 8.
The family legacy successors are to be made up of the children, grandchildren, and other relatives of A-bomb survivors. During the month of July this year, applicants will attend eight lectures to learn about the devastation caused by the atomic bombing and about methods for delivering the experiences to an audience. The trainees will put into writing the family members’ experiences they heard directly from them and practice providing lectures to the public. After completing the training, they will be commissioned by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, based in the city’s Naka Ward, to provide lectures to students on school trips as well as tourists, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and other venues.
The more general A-bomb Legacy Successors, whose training began in fiscal 2012, listen to A-bomb survivors already engaged in the sharing of their A-bombing experiences. The aim of the new program involving family members of survivors is to uncover the accounts of survivors who have not yet spoken of their experiences publicly. The city’s Peace Promotion Division is urging people to apply. “We ask for cooperation from A-bomb survivors’ family members to convey the reality of the atomic bombing so that it is never forgotten.”
On the same day, the city government began accepting fiscal 2022 applications for speakers of their own A-bomb experiences and A-bomb Legacy Successors, in addition to the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors. All applicants for either position must attend a briefing session on the description of their activities, training schedule specifics, and other information involving the work.
A total of four briefing sessions will be held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: starting at 10:00 a.m. on May 11, 15th, and 21st, and starting at 2:00 p.m. on May 13. Advance reservations are not required. For further information, call the city’s Peace Promotion Division at 082-242-7831 during weekdays.
Schedule for briefing sessions on recruitment of family members of A-bomb survivors, as well as A-bomb survivors and others who are interested in passing on the A-bomb experiences of survivors:
May 11 (Wed.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Meeting Room 1, Peace Memorial Museum
May 13 (Fri.), 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Meeting Room 1, Peace Memorial Museum
May 15 (Sun.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Memorial Hall, Peace Memorial Museum
May 21 (Sat.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Meeting Room 2, Peace Memorial Museum
(Originally published on April 9, 2022)
Amid a dwindling number of A-bomb survivors who can communicate their experiences in the atomic bombing due to the aging of that population, the Hiroshima City government will begin a new effort called the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors program. In the program, relatives of A-bomb survivors who have heard their family members’ experiences are expected to convey such stories on behalf of the survivors. The goal of the program is to try and uncover additional A-bomb experiences, with cooperation from survivors’ family members, and convey the stories to future generations. Applicants will undergo a two-year training period and begin communicating family members’ accounts of their A-bombing experiences in fiscal year 2024. The city began accepting applications for the first group of trainees on April 8.
The family legacy successors are to be made up of the children, grandchildren, and other relatives of A-bomb survivors. During the month of July this year, applicants will attend eight lectures to learn about the devastation caused by the atomic bombing and about methods for delivering the experiences to an audience. The trainees will put into writing the family members’ experiences they heard directly from them and practice providing lectures to the public. After completing the training, they will be commissioned by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, based in the city’s Naka Ward, to provide lectures to students on school trips as well as tourists, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and other venues.
The more general A-bomb Legacy Successors, whose training began in fiscal 2012, listen to A-bomb survivors already engaged in the sharing of their A-bombing experiences. The aim of the new program involving family members of survivors is to uncover the accounts of survivors who have not yet spoken of their experiences publicly. The city’s Peace Promotion Division is urging people to apply. “We ask for cooperation from A-bomb survivors’ family members to convey the reality of the atomic bombing so that it is never forgotten.”
On the same day, the city government began accepting fiscal 2022 applications for speakers of their own A-bomb experiences and A-bomb Legacy Successors, in addition to the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors. All applicants for either position must attend a briefing session on the description of their activities, training schedule specifics, and other information involving the work.
A total of four briefing sessions will be held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: starting at 10:00 a.m. on May 11, 15th, and 21st, and starting at 2:00 p.m. on May 13. Advance reservations are not required. For further information, call the city’s Peace Promotion Division at 082-242-7831 during weekdays.
Schedule for briefing sessions on recruitment of family members of A-bomb survivors, as well as A-bomb survivors and others who are interested in passing on the A-bomb experiences of survivors:
May 11 (Wed.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Meeting Room 1, Peace Memorial Museum
May 13 (Fri.), 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Meeting Room 1, Peace Memorial Museum
May 15 (Sun.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Memorial Hall, Peace Memorial Museum
May 21 (Sat.), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Meeting Room 2, Peace Memorial Museum
(Originally published on April 9, 2022)
