Nine Family A-bomb Legacy Successors appointed by Hiroshima City to start work in November of conveying A-bombing experiences
Oct. 11, 2023
by Ikumi Yorikane, Staff Writer
A ceremony for the appointment of what are called “Family A-bomb Legacy Successors” took place at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, in the city’s Naka Ward, on October 10. Nine people were newly appointed to the successor ranks after their completion of the training in September. The successors communicate the memories of Hiroshima’s atomic bombing on behalf of the aging A-bomb survivors.
At the ceremony, Masuhiro Hosoda, deputy director of the museum, offered words of encouragement to the new successors. “I hope you are able to engage in the work with the aim of achieving a peaceful world,” said Mr. Hosoda, who handed a formal letter of appointment from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation to each of the nine individuals, who ranged in age between 45 and 74 years old (as of October 1). Noriko Kubota, 49, one of the new successors, will pass on her father-in-law’s experiences of being exposed to the “black rain” that fell after the bombing. Ms. Kubota said, “I hope to gain experience in giving presentations until I can speak in a way that makes the reality of the A-bombing resonate with audiences.”
Training for Family A-bomb Legacy Successors began last fiscal year. Earlier in April this year, for the first time, seven people were appointed to the role. Typically, the training program to learn about the reality of the atomic bombing and the manner of speaking about the issue takes around two years. That period can be shortened, however, when presentation manuscripts are completed earlier than expected, for example.
At the same time, 14 people, ranging in age between 27 and 77, were appointed to serve as “A-bomb Legacy Successors,” who engage in passing on A-bomb survivor testimonies as non-family members. All of the successors will start their work sequentially in November, speaking to visitors at the Peace Memorial Museum and other venues.
(Originally published on October 11, 2023)
A ceremony for the appointment of what are called “Family A-bomb Legacy Successors” took place at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, in the city’s Naka Ward, on October 10. Nine people were newly appointed to the successor ranks after their completion of the training in September. The successors communicate the memories of Hiroshima’s atomic bombing on behalf of the aging A-bomb survivors.
At the ceremony, Masuhiro Hosoda, deputy director of the museum, offered words of encouragement to the new successors. “I hope you are able to engage in the work with the aim of achieving a peaceful world,” said Mr. Hosoda, who handed a formal letter of appointment from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation to each of the nine individuals, who ranged in age between 45 and 74 years old (as of October 1). Noriko Kubota, 49, one of the new successors, will pass on her father-in-law’s experiences of being exposed to the “black rain” that fell after the bombing. Ms. Kubota said, “I hope to gain experience in giving presentations until I can speak in a way that makes the reality of the A-bombing resonate with audiences.”
Training for Family A-bomb Legacy Successors began last fiscal year. Earlier in April this year, for the first time, seven people were appointed to the role. Typically, the training program to learn about the reality of the atomic bombing and the manner of speaking about the issue takes around two years. That period can be shortened, however, when presentation manuscripts are completed earlier than expected, for example.
At the same time, 14 people, ranging in age between 27 and 77, were appointed to serve as “A-bomb Legacy Successors,” who engage in passing on A-bomb survivor testimonies as non-family members. All of the successors will start their work sequentially in November, speaking to visitors at the Peace Memorial Museum and other venues.
(Originally published on October 11, 2023)
