Shigeaki Mori, a local historian who investigated American POWs who died in the Hiroshima bombing, awarded Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize
Oct. 4, 2024
by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer
On October 3, the Hiroshima Peace Center Foundation, an organization with offices in Hiroshima’s Saeki Ward and chaired by Mamoru Tsuru, announced it had selected Shigeaki Mori, 87, a local historian and atomic bomb survivor who lives in Nishi Ward, as recipient of the 36th Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize. The Peace Center Foundation recognized Mr. Mori for his many years of investigation, which concluded twelve American soldiers held as prisoners of war (POWs) in Hiroshima at the time of the atomic bombing were killed in the attack.
Mr. Mori was eight years old when he experienced the atomic bombing in Koi-machi (now part of Nishi Ward), about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Apart from working as a company employee, he spent many years conducting investigations into American POWs held in Hiroshima and killed in the atomic bombing, the results of which were published in his 2008 book. When Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in 2016, as the first sitting U.S. president to do so, he took Mr. Mori in his embrace, an image that was reported around the world. In the same year, Mr. Mori won the Kikuchi Kan Prize.
Praising Mr. Mori’s activities as efforts leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, the foundation sent a message: “There are no boundaries to the tragedy of the atomic bombings.” Mr. Mori said, “I will continue to tell people how precious peace is.”
A presentation ceremony will be held in Naka Ward on November 17. The Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize was established in 1987 to carry out the wishes of the late Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto of the Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, who was dedicated to providing support to atomic bomb survivors.
(Originally published on October 4, 2024)
On October 3, the Hiroshima Peace Center Foundation, an organization with offices in Hiroshima’s Saeki Ward and chaired by Mamoru Tsuru, announced it had selected Shigeaki Mori, 87, a local historian and atomic bomb survivor who lives in Nishi Ward, as recipient of the 36th Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize. The Peace Center Foundation recognized Mr. Mori for his many years of investigation, which concluded twelve American soldiers held as prisoners of war (POWs) in Hiroshima at the time of the atomic bombing were killed in the attack.
Mr. Mori was eight years old when he experienced the atomic bombing in Koi-machi (now part of Nishi Ward), about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Apart from working as a company employee, he spent many years conducting investigations into American POWs held in Hiroshima and killed in the atomic bombing, the results of which were published in his 2008 book. When Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in 2016, as the first sitting U.S. president to do so, he took Mr. Mori in his embrace, an image that was reported around the world. In the same year, Mr. Mori won the Kikuchi Kan Prize.
Praising Mr. Mori’s activities as efforts leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, the foundation sent a message: “There are no boundaries to the tragedy of the atomic bombings.” Mr. Mori said, “I will continue to tell people how precious peace is.”
A presentation ceremony will be held in Naka Ward on November 17. The Kiyoshi Tanimoto Peace Prize was established in 1987 to carry out the wishes of the late Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto of the Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, who was dedicated to providing support to atomic bomb survivors.
(Originally published on October 4, 2024)
