Memories of A-bomb survivors passed down through paintings
Jul. 4, 2023
Paintings of atomic bombing unveiled at Motomachi High School
by Kaori Ota, Staff Writer
Nine new paintings of the atomic bombing were unveiled at Motomachi High School in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, on July 3. The pictures painted by nine second- and third-year students of the Creative Expression Course of the school convey five A-bomb survivors’ memories of the fateful day.
Bodies seen from a train window. A mother calling for help with her baby in her arms. The students began interviewing A-bomb survivors in October last year, and each student completed one painting in their own style.
Aoi Fukumoto, 17, a third-year student, created an oil painting depicting a 5-year-old boy removing pieces of glass stuck in his father’s back, based on the account of Masaki Hironaka, 83, of Fukuyama. “I want as many people as possible to think about the pain of war,” she said. Invited to the unveiling of the pictures, Mr. Hironaka said, “I guess my father taught me with his back what happens if we have war.” He praised the quality of all the paintings.
At the request of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, students at Motomachi High School have completed 191 paintings since the 2007 academic year. Some of the paintings, including these nine, will be exhibited at the International Conference Center Hiroshima from August 6 through August 24.
(Originally published on July 4, 2023)
