Hiroshima-based group “Learning from Floyd Schmoe” to donate all proceeds from self-published book to support restoring Sadako’s statue in Seattle
Aug. 16, 2024
by Minami Yamashita, Staff Writer
In response to the theft of a bronze statue named “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” from Seattle’s Peace Park in the United States, a Hiroshima-based citizens’ group will donate money to a local group working to restore the statue. The group “Learning from Floyd Schmoe” will donate all proceeds from a privately published book about Floyd Schmoe (1895-2001), an American peace activist who supported the reconstruction of Hiroshima and helped to build the park.
The A4-size book Houses for Hiroshima contains 121 pages. The book tells the story of Mr. Schmoe, who visited Hiroshima after the war and built houses to support A-bomb survivors, through the memoirs of those involved. The Japanese-language version, which was published in 2014, was translated with the cooperation of faculty members and students at San Jose State University, and the English-language version was published at the expense of the group. The book is priced at 800 yen per copy, and 200 copies are available.
The model for the stolen statue was Sadako Sasaki, who was exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and died of leukemia at the age of 12. It was learned in mid-July that the statue had been cut off above the ankles and stolen. The Hiroshima group decided to use the proceeds from the sale of the book to help people learn about the background of the park’s construction and Mr. Schmoe’s achievements, as well as to help a local Christian group restore the statue.
Hiroko Nishimura, 66, head of the group, called for cooperation and said, “I was shocked when I learned of the theft. We hope the book will help people learn about Mr. Schmoe and think about what they can do for peace.” The group accepts orders for the book as well as donations through emails. Their email address is figjam.fs@gmail.com
(Originally published on August 16, 2024)
In response to the theft of a bronze statue named “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” from Seattle’s Peace Park in the United States, a Hiroshima-based citizens’ group will donate money to a local group working to restore the statue. The group “Learning from Floyd Schmoe” will donate all proceeds from a privately published book about Floyd Schmoe (1895-2001), an American peace activist who supported the reconstruction of Hiroshima and helped to build the park.
The A4-size book Houses for Hiroshima contains 121 pages. The book tells the story of Mr. Schmoe, who visited Hiroshima after the war and built houses to support A-bomb survivors, through the memoirs of those involved. The Japanese-language version, which was published in 2014, was translated with the cooperation of faculty members and students at San Jose State University, and the English-language version was published at the expense of the group. The book is priced at 800 yen per copy, and 200 copies are available.
The model for the stolen statue was Sadako Sasaki, who was exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and died of leukemia at the age of 12. It was learned in mid-July that the statue had been cut off above the ankles and stolen. The Hiroshima group decided to use the proceeds from the sale of the book to help people learn about the background of the park’s construction and Mr. Schmoe’s achievements, as well as to help a local Christian group restore the statue.
Hiroko Nishimura, 66, head of the group, called for cooperation and said, “I was shocked when I learned of the theft. We hope the book will help people learn about Mr. Schmoe and think about what they can do for peace.” The group accepts orders for the book as well as donations through emails. Their email address is figjam.fs@gmail.com
(Originally published on August 16, 2024)
