Two A-bomb survivors named "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons"
Sep. 22, 2010
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
On September 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan commissioned two A-bomb survivors to serve as "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons" in order to convey the horrific consequences of nuclear arms both at home and abroad. They are Akihiro Takahashi, 79, an A-bomb survivor in Hiroshima and former director of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and Yoshiro Yamawaki, 76, an A-bomb survivor in Nagasaki and a member of the Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of Peace.
This is the first such commission. On September 25, Mr. Takahashi will relate his A-bomb experience to young diplomats from 25 nations visiting Hiroshima for the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program. Mr. Yamawaki, meanwhile, will share his A-bomb account with the same diplomats when they visit Nagasaki on September 27. Mr. Yamawaki will also speak to junior high school students at an A-bomb exhibition to be held in the U.K. in November, organized by the City of Nagasaki and other entities.
Mr. Yamawaki visited the prime minister's office and received encouragement from Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The prime minister asked Mr. Yamasaki to convey his A-bomb experience on many occasions to help create a world without nuclear weapons. Mr. Yamawaki responded to the request by saying that he would make every effort for this cause. At the same time, Mutsushi Tanimoto, director of the Tokyo Office of Hiroshima City, delivered a message to Mr. Kan from Mr. Takahashi, which said that he will do his best for this mission.
Mr. Kan revealed the idea of "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons" at the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6, an effort designed to show the international community that Japan, as the A-bombed nation, is taking positive action for a nuclear-free world. When A-bomb survivors relate their A-bomb experiences on such occasions as international conferences and A-bomb exhibitions, they can apply to MOFA to use the title "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons." MOFA is also considering the idea of dispatching commissioned A-bomb survivors overseas.
(Originally published on September 22, 2010)
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Japanese prime minister speaks at Peace Memorial Ceremony (Aug. 6, 2010)
On September 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan commissioned two A-bomb survivors to serve as "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons" in order to convey the horrific consequences of nuclear arms both at home and abroad. They are Akihiro Takahashi, 79, an A-bomb survivor in Hiroshima and former director of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and Yoshiro Yamawaki, 76, an A-bomb survivor in Nagasaki and a member of the Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of Peace.
This is the first such commission. On September 25, Mr. Takahashi will relate his A-bomb experience to young diplomats from 25 nations visiting Hiroshima for the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program. Mr. Yamawaki, meanwhile, will share his A-bomb account with the same diplomats when they visit Nagasaki on September 27. Mr. Yamawaki will also speak to junior high school students at an A-bomb exhibition to be held in the U.K. in November, organized by the City of Nagasaki and other entities.
Mr. Yamawaki visited the prime minister's office and received encouragement from Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The prime minister asked Mr. Yamasaki to convey his A-bomb experience on many occasions to help create a world without nuclear weapons. Mr. Yamawaki responded to the request by saying that he would make every effort for this cause. At the same time, Mutsushi Tanimoto, director of the Tokyo Office of Hiroshima City, delivered a message to Mr. Kan from Mr. Takahashi, which said that he will do his best for this mission.
Mr. Kan revealed the idea of "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons" at the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6, an effort designed to show the international community that Japan, as the A-bombed nation, is taking positive action for a nuclear-free world. When A-bomb survivors relate their A-bomb experiences on such occasions as international conferences and A-bomb exhibitions, they can apply to MOFA to use the title "Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons." MOFA is also considering the idea of dispatching commissioned A-bomb survivors overseas.
(Originally published on September 22, 2010)
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Japanese prime minister speaks at Peace Memorial Ceremony (Aug. 6, 2010)
