80 high school students from eight Asian nations learn about Hiroshima
Jun. 30, 2010
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
On June 29, about 80 high school students from eight Asian nations, including India and Pakistan, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learned about the damage caused by the atomic bombing as they toured Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and listened to the experience of an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha).
The students met with Tomiko Matsumoto, 78, a resident of Hiroshima, at the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. They listened to her account of the A-bomb devastation that she witnessed about 1.4 kilometers from the hypocenter and her experience of suffering from burns and losing her mother and younger brother. They paid close attention as she appealed to them: "We must never again produce hibakusha."
Abdul Haad Mauf, 19, from Afghanistan said, "I have learned that Japan as it is today is the result of the fact that great difficulties were overcome. I hope that my country will follow Japan's example."
The students came to Japan on June 23 for the program "Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths," organized by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Until July 2, they will tour various sites in Tokyo and other places and interact with high school students.
(Originally published on June 30, 2010)
On June 29, about 80 high school students from eight Asian nations, including India and Pakistan, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learned about the damage caused by the atomic bombing as they toured Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and listened to the experience of an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha).
The students met with Tomiko Matsumoto, 78, a resident of Hiroshima, at the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. They listened to her account of the A-bomb devastation that she witnessed about 1.4 kilometers from the hypocenter and her experience of suffering from burns and losing her mother and younger brother. They paid close attention as she appealed to them: "We must never again produce hibakusha."
Abdul Haad Mauf, 19, from Afghanistan said, "I have learned that Japan as it is today is the result of the fact that great difficulties were overcome. I hope that my country will follow Japan's example."
The students came to Japan on June 23 for the program "Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths," organized by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Until July 2, they will tour various sites in Tokyo and other places and interact with high school students.
(Originally published on June 30, 2010)
