Hiroshima City to recruit atomic bomb survivors, as well as family members of survivors, throughout the year to share their atomic bomb experiences
Aug. 28, 2024
by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer
Starting September 1, and throughout the year, the Hiroshima City government will recruit atomic bomb survivors to work with the city to share their atomic bomb experiences with the public. The application period was previously limited to one month in May, but the city will change it to speed up the process of uncovering and training aging survivors. For the same reason, they will also begin recruiting applicants year-round for “Hibakusha Family Member Legacy Successors,” the children and grandchildren of atomic bomb survivors who share the experience of family members.
After completing the training program and being commissioned by the city, the atomic bomb survivors will give lectures at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (in the city’s Naka Ward) to students on school trips, visitors to the museum and political leaders. In the program, they first learn a variety of things, including the reality of the atomic bombing through DVDs, then write drafts of their speeches, and go through a series of practical training exercises before being officially commissioned by the city’s Peace Culture Foundation to make their debut as speakers.
Since fiscal 2012, when the city launched the training program, a total of 105 atomic bomb survivors have applied for the program. However, the number of applicants fell to two in fiscal 2022, one in 2023, and five in 2024. At present, only 23 people who have completed the training have been commissioned by the city to share their accounts. The advantage of year-round recruitment is that survivors can apply whenever they want, once they have made up their minds.
The city will also accept applications throughout the year for the “Hibakusha Family Member Legacy Successors” program, which was launched in fiscal 2022 for family members of the atomic bomb survivors who have the opportunity to always inherit the memories of their parents or grandparents for the same reason. Currently, 34 people have completed the training. On the other hand, the application for the “A-bomb Legacy Successors,” who, as a third party, take over the survivors’ atomic bomb experiences and memories and give testimony on their behalf, will be accepted only in May, as in the past, so as not to increase the burden on the survivors who might have to give lectures many times if applications were accepted throughout the year.
The city’s Peace Promotion Division said, “We would like to uncover as many atomic bomb experiences as possible and pass them on to future generations.” The application form for the programs for both atomic bomb survivors and the family members will be available on the city’s website. For further information, call the division at 082-242-7831 (weekdays only).
(Originally published on August 28, 2024)
Starting September 1, and throughout the year, the Hiroshima City government will recruit atomic bomb survivors to work with the city to share their atomic bomb experiences with the public. The application period was previously limited to one month in May, but the city will change it to speed up the process of uncovering and training aging survivors. For the same reason, they will also begin recruiting applicants year-round for “Hibakusha Family Member Legacy Successors,” the children and grandchildren of atomic bomb survivors who share the experience of family members.
After completing the training program and being commissioned by the city, the atomic bomb survivors will give lectures at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (in the city’s Naka Ward) to students on school trips, visitors to the museum and political leaders. In the program, they first learn a variety of things, including the reality of the atomic bombing through DVDs, then write drafts of their speeches, and go through a series of practical training exercises before being officially commissioned by the city’s Peace Culture Foundation to make their debut as speakers.
Since fiscal 2012, when the city launched the training program, a total of 105 atomic bomb survivors have applied for the program. However, the number of applicants fell to two in fiscal 2022, one in 2023, and five in 2024. At present, only 23 people who have completed the training have been commissioned by the city to share their accounts. The advantage of year-round recruitment is that survivors can apply whenever they want, once they have made up their minds.
The city will also accept applications throughout the year for the “Hibakusha Family Member Legacy Successors” program, which was launched in fiscal 2022 for family members of the atomic bomb survivors who have the opportunity to always inherit the memories of their parents or grandparents for the same reason. Currently, 34 people have completed the training. On the other hand, the application for the “A-bomb Legacy Successors,” who, as a third party, take over the survivors’ atomic bomb experiences and memories and give testimony on their behalf, will be accepted only in May, as in the past, so as not to increase the burden on the survivors who might have to give lectures many times if applications were accepted throughout the year.
The city’s Peace Promotion Division said, “We would like to uncover as many atomic bomb experiences as possible and pass them on to future generations.” The application form for the programs for both atomic bomb survivors and the family members will be available on the city’s website. For further information, call the division at 082-242-7831 (weekdays only).
(Originally published on August 28, 2024)
