Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors publishes book with 90 A-bomb accounts by survivors in South America
Nov. 14, 2014
by Yota Baba, Staff Writer
To mark the 30th anniversary of its founding, the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors issued a collection of A-bomb experiences by their members entitled Hibakusha Residing in South America: Cries from the Soul. On November 7, some members of the group now paying a visit to Japan, including Takashi Morita, 90, chairman of the association and a resident of Sao Paulo, held a press conference at Hiroshima City Hall and shared the book.
The A5-size book runs 247 pages and consists of essays written by 90 A-bomb survivors, including those who have since passed away, who emigrated to such countries as Brazil and Paraguay. According to Mr. Morita, the essays, written after 1987, were composed by survivors who lost family members and suffered discrimination after the war. Their accounts voice cries of blood and tears as well as reflections on their homeland of Japan and peace.
The cover of the book, which depicts roses in a scorched plain, comes from “Roses of Hiroshima,” a popular peace song in Brazil. Kazuyuki Tamura, professor emeritus of Hiroshima University, who has lent his support to the Brazilian group, said that the book is the first collection of accounts by an organization comprised of A-bomb survivors residing overseas.
Eight hundred copies of the book have been printed, with copies to be donated to organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture, including Peace Memorial Museum, and libraries in the prefecture. For next year’s 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the association will translate the book into Portuguese and distribute copies to schools in Brazil.
Mr. Morita said, “It breaks my heart when I think about fellow survivors who passed away without benefiting from any relief measures by the Japanese government. I hope the book will be used as a textbook to help convey the historical facts to younger generations.”
(Originally published on November 8, 2014)
To mark the 30th anniversary of its founding, the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors issued a collection of A-bomb experiences by their members entitled Hibakusha Residing in South America: Cries from the Soul. On November 7, some members of the group now paying a visit to Japan, including Takashi Morita, 90, chairman of the association and a resident of Sao Paulo, held a press conference at Hiroshima City Hall and shared the book.
The A5-size book runs 247 pages and consists of essays written by 90 A-bomb survivors, including those who have since passed away, who emigrated to such countries as Brazil and Paraguay. According to Mr. Morita, the essays, written after 1987, were composed by survivors who lost family members and suffered discrimination after the war. Their accounts voice cries of blood and tears as well as reflections on their homeland of Japan and peace.
The cover of the book, which depicts roses in a scorched plain, comes from “Roses of Hiroshima,” a popular peace song in Brazil. Kazuyuki Tamura, professor emeritus of Hiroshima University, who has lent his support to the Brazilian group, said that the book is the first collection of accounts by an organization comprised of A-bomb survivors residing overseas.
Eight hundred copies of the book have been printed, with copies to be donated to organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture, including Peace Memorial Museum, and libraries in the prefecture. For next year’s 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the association will translate the book into Portuguese and distribute copies to schools in Brazil.
Mr. Morita said, “It breaks my heart when I think about fellow survivors who passed away without benefiting from any relief measures by the Japanese government. I hope the book will be used as a textbook to help convey the historical facts to younger generations.”
(Originally published on November 8, 2014)
