Hiroshima students organize gathering with Yoko Ono to consider peace issues
Aug. 5, 2014
by Minako Okuda, Staff Writer
A gathering to consider peace issues with Yoko Ono, 81, a world-famous artist and peace activist, was held on July 30 at the International Conference Center Hiroshima. The event, titled “Consider Peace with Yoko Ono: Spreading Messages from Hiroshima Before the 70th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing” was organized by junior high school, high school, and university students in Hiroshima. About 300 participants considered what role Hiroshima’s young people should play and shared the idea of the joint statement: “We will take the first step toward peace.”
A panel discussion was conducted by the following panelists: Yoko Ono; Kazumi Matsui, 61, the mayor of Hiroshima; Terue Toda, 82, an A-bomb survivor; Nao Fukuoka, 21, a junior at Hiroshima University; Manami Daigo, 18, a third-year student at Itsukaichi High School; and Shiho Fujii, 12, a junior writer for the Chugoku Shimbun and first-year student at Kokutaiji Junior High School. Nao and Manami are members of the executive committee which organized the event.
Ms. Toda explained the importance of handing down experiences of the atomic bombing to future generations, and Manami said she will bear the feelings of her grandfather, an A-bomb survivor, in mind. With the younger panelists expressing their determination to convey the horror of war to people of their generation or take a leading role in offering prayers for peace, Mr. Matsui said he looks forward to seeing their proactive efforts.
Before the panel discussion, Ms. Ono said, “Origami cranes have become part of the global language.” She suggested that all the participants fold a paper crane during the gathering. She also encouraged them to convey Hiroshima’s experience to the world. Members of the calligraphy club at Itsukaichi High School made a presentation in which they wrote “Road of Hope” in large letters, using outsize brushes, on a huge sheet of paper.
Ms. Ono is a recipient of the Hiroshima Art Prize, which is given to artists who have contributed to the cause of peace in the field of contemporary art. At the request of members of the executive committee, Ms. Ono agreed to take part. Now, for the following year, the committee will collect messages of peace from around the world and post them on a website in cooperation with the Chugoku Shimbun.
(Originally published on July 31, 2014)
A gathering to consider peace issues with Yoko Ono, 81, a world-famous artist and peace activist, was held on July 30 at the International Conference Center Hiroshima. The event, titled “Consider Peace with Yoko Ono: Spreading Messages from Hiroshima Before the 70th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing” was organized by junior high school, high school, and university students in Hiroshima. About 300 participants considered what role Hiroshima’s young people should play and shared the idea of the joint statement: “We will take the first step toward peace.”
A panel discussion was conducted by the following panelists: Yoko Ono; Kazumi Matsui, 61, the mayor of Hiroshima; Terue Toda, 82, an A-bomb survivor; Nao Fukuoka, 21, a junior at Hiroshima University; Manami Daigo, 18, a third-year student at Itsukaichi High School; and Shiho Fujii, 12, a junior writer for the Chugoku Shimbun and first-year student at Kokutaiji Junior High School. Nao and Manami are members of the executive committee which organized the event.
Ms. Toda explained the importance of handing down experiences of the atomic bombing to future generations, and Manami said she will bear the feelings of her grandfather, an A-bomb survivor, in mind. With the younger panelists expressing their determination to convey the horror of war to people of their generation or take a leading role in offering prayers for peace, Mr. Matsui said he looks forward to seeing their proactive efforts.
Before the panel discussion, Ms. Ono said, “Origami cranes have become part of the global language.” She suggested that all the participants fold a paper crane during the gathering. She also encouraged them to convey Hiroshima’s experience to the world. Members of the calligraphy club at Itsukaichi High School made a presentation in which they wrote “Road of Hope” in large letters, using outsize brushes, on a huge sheet of paper.
Ms. Ono is a recipient of the Hiroshima Art Prize, which is given to artists who have contributed to the cause of peace in the field of contemporary art. At the request of members of the executive committee, Ms. Ono agreed to take part. Now, for the following year, the committee will collect messages of peace from around the world and post them on a website in cooperation with the Chugoku Shimbun.
(Originally published on July 31, 2014)
