A-bomb survivors’ testimony group “Hiroshima o Kataru Kai” resumed after 22-year hiatus, including bereaved families and second-generation A-bomb survivors
May 12, 2023
by Rina Yuasa, Staff Writer
Keizaburo Toyonaga, 87, an A-bomb survivor living in Hiroshima’s Aki Ward, resumed for the first time in 22 years “Hiroshima o Kataru Kai,” a testimonial activities group of A-bomb survivors, which was disbanded in 2001 due to the aging of its members. The group makes a fresh start with the addition of bereaved families of A-bomb victims and second-generation A-bomb survivors, in an effort to carry on the spirit of his fellows, including Suzuko Numata. Overcoming the hardship of losing her left leg after the A-bombing, she communicated the preciousness of life under a Chinese parasol tree that survived the bombing and died in 2011 at the age of 87.
On May 11, Mr. Toyonaga gave his first testimony since the group’s resumption at the Hiroshima City Youth Center, located in Naka Ward. He said, “My mother's face had been so severely burned that I couldn't recognize her. Immediately after the atomic bombing, my brother suffered from diarrhea for a week.” In front of 22 sixth-year students from Mie Elementary School in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, he spoke about his exposure to A-bomb radiation when he entered the city after the A-bombing at the age of nine and the injuries his family suffered. He also talked about the suffering of having two cancers and emphasized, “I want you all to maintain the peace.”
“Hiroshima o Kataru Kai” was created by Mr. Toyonaga, who used to be a high school teacher, in addition to Ms. Numata, and others in 1984. They, including Hiroshi Hara, who continued to paint more than 3,000 pictures in front of the A-bomb Dome and died in 2019 at the age of 87, shared their experiences with, in one year at its peak, about 40,000 students on school trips.
There were 27 members, at the maximum, but aging and illness forced the group to disband. Mr. Toyonaga and several other members continued their testimony by working individually or belonging to different groups.
Mr. Toyonaga is the only surviving member of the group from that time. He always remembers Ms. Numata, who devoted herself to talking to children. His desire to pass his experience on to the next generation while he was alive grew, and he decided to resume the activities of the group. He spoke to his acquaintances that had been exposed to the A-bombing in utero and to second-generation A-bomb survivors. As a result, more than 10 people gathered to reestablish the group.
There were also people who had applied to work as one of the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors, for which the Hiroshima City government provided training, but were unable to meet the application requirements because their family members who were exposed to the A-bombing had already passed away. Hiroko Konishi, 74, a resident of Higashi Ward, stresses, “I have wanted to talk about the suffering of my brother, who passed away from leukemia 20 years after the A-bombing. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Mr. Toyonaga says, “The A-bomb victims are not the only A-bomb survivors. I want many different people to join our group.”
(Originally published on May 12, 2023)
Keizaburo Toyonaga, 87, an A-bomb survivor living in Hiroshima’s Aki Ward, resumed for the first time in 22 years “Hiroshima o Kataru Kai,” a testimonial activities group of A-bomb survivors, which was disbanded in 2001 due to the aging of its members. The group makes a fresh start with the addition of bereaved families of A-bomb victims and second-generation A-bomb survivors, in an effort to carry on the spirit of his fellows, including Suzuko Numata. Overcoming the hardship of losing her left leg after the A-bombing, she communicated the preciousness of life under a Chinese parasol tree that survived the bombing and died in 2011 at the age of 87.
On May 11, Mr. Toyonaga gave his first testimony since the group’s resumption at the Hiroshima City Youth Center, located in Naka Ward. He said, “My mother's face had been so severely burned that I couldn't recognize her. Immediately after the atomic bombing, my brother suffered from diarrhea for a week.” In front of 22 sixth-year students from Mie Elementary School in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, he spoke about his exposure to A-bomb radiation when he entered the city after the A-bombing at the age of nine and the injuries his family suffered. He also talked about the suffering of having two cancers and emphasized, “I want you all to maintain the peace.”
“Hiroshima o Kataru Kai” was created by Mr. Toyonaga, who used to be a high school teacher, in addition to Ms. Numata, and others in 1984. They, including Hiroshi Hara, who continued to paint more than 3,000 pictures in front of the A-bomb Dome and died in 2019 at the age of 87, shared their experiences with, in one year at its peak, about 40,000 students on school trips.
There were 27 members, at the maximum, but aging and illness forced the group to disband. Mr. Toyonaga and several other members continued their testimony by working individually or belonging to different groups.
Mr. Toyonaga is the only surviving member of the group from that time. He always remembers Ms. Numata, who devoted herself to talking to children. His desire to pass his experience on to the next generation while he was alive grew, and he decided to resume the activities of the group. He spoke to his acquaintances that had been exposed to the A-bombing in utero and to second-generation A-bomb survivors. As a result, more than 10 people gathered to reestablish the group.
There were also people who had applied to work as one of the Family A-bomb Legacy Successors, for which the Hiroshima City government provided training, but were unable to meet the application requirements because their family members who were exposed to the A-bombing had already passed away. Hiroko Konishi, 74, a resident of Higashi Ward, stresses, “I have wanted to talk about the suffering of my brother, who passed away from leukemia 20 years after the A-bombing. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Mr. Toyonaga says, “The A-bomb victims are not the only A-bomb survivors. I want many different people to join our group.”
(Originally published on May 12, 2023)
