Steven Leeper, former chair of Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, awarded Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize
Sep. 6, 2023
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
On September 5, the Hiroshima Peace Center Foundation, an organization with offices in the city’s Saeki Ward and chaired by Mamoru Tsuru, announced it had selected Steven Leeper, 75, former chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, as recipient of the 35th Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize. The Peace Center Foundation recognized Mr. Leeper for his work in both the United States and the A-bombed city of Hiroshima aimed at the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Leeper is originally from the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1984, he moved to Hiroshima City, where he came into contact with the experiences of local people in the atomic bombing while working as an English teacher and translator. During the period 2007–2013, Mr. Leeper served as the first non-Japanese chair of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, contributing to the expansion of the present-day Mayors for Peace organization and the holding of A-bomb exhibits in more than 100 cities throughout the United States.
Since stepping down from his post as chairperson of the foundation, Mr. Leeper has continued his work related to peace education and speaking to the public, including the establishment of a non-profit organization in Miyoshi City in 2017, while traveling back and forth between Japan and the United States. He was awarded the prize for “his dedication over many years to the work involving activities aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons and the creation of a peaceful world.” Upon being awarded the prize, Mr. Leeper said, “I want to express my gratitude to all the people who, over these 40 years, helped me become a true person of Hiroshima.”
The prize was established by the Peace Center Foundation in 1987 to carry on the spirit of the late Kiyoshi Tanimoto, minister at the Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, located in the city’s Naka Ward, who worked tirelessly to provide support to the A-bomb survivors. A presentation ceremony will be held at a location in Hiroshima’s centrally located Naka Ward later this year, on November 19.
(Originally published on September 6, 2023)
On September 5, the Hiroshima Peace Center Foundation, an organization with offices in the city’s Saeki Ward and chaired by Mamoru Tsuru, announced it had selected Steven Leeper, 75, former chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, as recipient of the 35th Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize. The Peace Center Foundation recognized Mr. Leeper for his work in both the United States and the A-bombed city of Hiroshima aimed at the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Leeper is originally from the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1984, he moved to Hiroshima City, where he came into contact with the experiences of local people in the atomic bombing while working as an English teacher and translator. During the period 2007–2013, Mr. Leeper served as the first non-Japanese chair of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, contributing to the expansion of the present-day Mayors for Peace organization and the holding of A-bomb exhibits in more than 100 cities throughout the United States.
Since stepping down from his post as chairperson of the foundation, Mr. Leeper has continued his work related to peace education and speaking to the public, including the establishment of a non-profit organization in Miyoshi City in 2017, while traveling back and forth between Japan and the United States. He was awarded the prize for “his dedication over many years to the work involving activities aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons and the creation of a peaceful world.” Upon being awarded the prize, Mr. Leeper said, “I want to express my gratitude to all the people who, over these 40 years, helped me become a true person of Hiroshima.”
The prize was established by the Peace Center Foundation in 1987 to carry on the spirit of the late Kiyoshi Tanimoto, minister at the Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, located in the city’s Naka Ward, who worked tirelessly to provide support to the A-bomb survivors. A presentation ceremony will be held at a location in Hiroshima’s centrally located Naka Ward later this year, on November 19.
(Originally published on September 6, 2023)
