Hiroshima survivor, famed writer encourages Fukushima children
Jul. 13, 2011
A writer of children's books who survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima encouraged children on Tuesday in Fukushima Prefecture living in fear of exposure to radiation from a nearby crippled nuclear power plant.
''I encountered the atomic bombing when I was 3 years old. But I am still living and healthy,'' Masamoto Nasu, 69, told children in a speech at Nakahata Elementary School in the town of Yabuki, Fukushima Prefecture.
''I hope you will not be irrationally afraid of radiation. And I hope you will tell of the experience of the earthquake to the next generation,'' Nasu told 153 students who attended his speech.
Nasu is known for the top-selling ''Zukkoke Sannin Gumi'' (Three Funny Boys) series.
Sixth-grader Hitomi Owada, 11, said she was excited to meet Nasu as she had read about 20 books from the ''Zukkoke'' series.
Nakahata Elementary School plans to remove surface soil from its playground as radiation of 0.3 microsievert per hour was measured just above the surface.
The school is located not far from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, where a series of explosions led to the release of radiation following the March 11 quake and tsunami.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 12, 2011)
''I encountered the atomic bombing when I was 3 years old. But I am still living and healthy,'' Masamoto Nasu, 69, told children in a speech at Nakahata Elementary School in the town of Yabuki, Fukushima Prefecture.
''I hope you will not be irrationally afraid of radiation. And I hope you will tell of the experience of the earthquake to the next generation,'' Nasu told 153 students who attended his speech.
Nasu is known for the top-selling ''Zukkoke Sannin Gumi'' (Three Funny Boys) series.
Sixth-grader Hitomi Owada, 11, said she was excited to meet Nasu as she had read about 20 books from the ''Zukkoke'' series.
Nakahata Elementary School plans to remove surface soil from its playground as radiation of 0.3 microsievert per hour was measured just above the surface.
The school is located not far from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, where a series of explosions led to the release of radiation following the March 11 quake and tsunami.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 12, 2011)
