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by Rina Yuasa, Staff Writer

Citizens’ group in Hiroshima sends A-bomb picture book to IOC President Bach

The citizens' group "Children's Library Linking Hiroshima and The World" in Hiroshima City (led by Yukiko Shibata) mailed a copy of the English translation of the picture book E de yomu Hiroshima no Genbaku, or Hiroshima, or A Tragedy Never to Be Repeated (written by Masamoto Nasu, illustrated by Shigeo Nishimura and published by Fukuinkan Shoten) to the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) in Tokyo for Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Mr. Bach visited Hiroshima on July 16.

The book contains depictions of streets and houses of Hiroshima before and after the atomic bombing and descriptions providing scientific explanation about the effects of radiation. The group also sent a greeting letter and a paper crane folded by Masako Miyazato, 80, a member of the group and a resident of Naka Ward, with the book.

Ms. Shibata, 89, a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, "There were arguments for and against Mr. Bach's visit to Hiroshima. But now that he came to Hiroshima, I hope he will learn more about the damage caused by the atomic bombing and contribute to nuclear abolition and international peace." The group also sent a copy of the English translation of the illustrated book to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for First Lady Jill Biden, who has come to Japan to attend the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The group was established in 1996. It has distributed the book A Tragedy Never to Be Repeated by presenting a copy of the book whenever a new government leader is inaugurated in overseas nations or important figures visit Hiroshima.

(Originally published on July 26, 2021)

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