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by Yu Yamada, Staff Writer

Toshiyuki Mimaki, 80, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), is a devout adherent of the Hongwanji Temple School of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (‘True Essence of Pure Land Buddhist Teaching’). Last year, Mr. Mimaki, a resident of the town of Kitahiroshima-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture, was invited for the first time to the school’s Bingo District gathering. He spoke to an audience of around 250 people, including priests and lay adherents, and participated in the singing of “Ondokusan,” a Japanese Buddhist hymn sung to praise the compassion of Amitabha Tathagata, or the ‘Buddha of Limitless Light,’ which he said “sets his heart at ease.” Mr. Mimaki explained that the time he spends at the temple supports him emotionally on his journey of speaking to the world about the devastation wrought by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Herein, the Chugoku Shimbun talks with Mr. Mimaki about his life.

Born in Tokyo, Mr. Mimaki experienced the Great Tokyo Air Raid, in March 1945, just as he was turning three years of age. In May of the same year, the family evacuated to the present-day Asakita Ward of Hiroshima, near his father’s hometown. That was where he experienced August 6. At the recent Bingo District peace gathering, held in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Mr. Mimaki spoke of his memories of those times.

At 8:15 on the morning of August 6, I was playing in front of my house. There was a flash in the sky, and I wondered if it was lightning. Around 3:00 p.m., when I saw many survivors walking down a nearby road, I finally realized something terrible must have happened in Hiroshima.

My father was working at the Hiroshima Station. The next day, my mother took me along to look for my father in the area around the train station, where we were exposed to the A-bomb’s radiation as early entrants into the city. Fortunately, we found my father unharmed.

In 2005, Mr. Mimaki started serving as chair of the Toyohira Atomic Bomb Survivors Association, joining the movement to abolish nuclear weapons. In 2021, he took over the post of Hiroshima Hidankyo chair from the late Sunao Tsuboi.

I experienced the atomic bombing when I was three, making me one of the younger members of the boards of various survivor organizations in the prefecture. After I took the post as a director of Hiroshima Hidankyo, I traveled to Hiroshima City almost daily for some time. I also traveled overseas countries as a member of visiting delegations. It seemed to me I was even busier than I had been when I was a company employee.

During the days when I had to negotiate with government agencies about measures for support of A-bomb survivors or ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), I always found comfort in the time I spent at Myokakuji Temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji Temple School. After spending two hours or so in front of the Amitabha Tathagata statue in the solemn atmosphere of the temple’s main hall, my overburdened mind would become settled.

In the past, when representatives of A-bomb survivors organizations from a variety of areas gathered for meetings, they would often argue when trying to decide on plans of action. Despite the fact that all A-bomb survivors shared the same desire to eliminate nuclear weapons from the world, they would argue. I often wondered why.

What guided me through those times was the journey of the priest Shinran, who I learned about through Buddhist sermons. Although his teachings now offer support to many, I understood he had a hard time during his training at Mt. Hiei, in Kyoto, when he was young, because he was troubled by earthly desires of which he could not rid himself. That anecdote for me highlighted his humanity. With that story, I began to understand that we need to continue making progress as we reflect on our own actions, even when we are troubled in some way.

As A-bomb survivors age, they continue to speak out for peace. Their thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine, who have suffered from Russia’s invasion.

I am always concerned that Japan’s national government might move in an undesirable direction when I hear them speak about increasing Japan’s spending on defense. Buddha’s principle of non-violence is something that must be followed. Protests, however, can be engaged in if necessary.

I serve as acting head of Myokakuji Temple adherents. As written in Shinran’s Shoshinge (‘Hymn of True Faith’), we live in peace embraced by the compassion of Amitabha Tathagata. I come to understand this each time I visit the temple.

The people of Ukraine continue to live in a situation in which they might be alive today but not tomorrow. With our thoughts going out to the people who live day-to-day under such harsh conditions, we will continue to convey our message for the realization of peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Notice from earlier this year
Memorial service in commemoration of the death of Shinran

February 15, starting at 1:30 p.m.
February 16, starting at 6:30 a.m. and at 10:00 a.m.
At the Hiroshima Betsuin (Branch) of Hongwanji Temple, located in the area of Teramachi in Hiroshima City’s Naka Ward

Lecture provided by Seii Fukuma, priest at Fukusenbo Temple, Akitakata City

Cancellation of the memorial service is possible in consideration of the coronavirus pandemic. Please check with the organizer or venue in advance.

(Originally published on February 6, 2023)