The first team of the Hiroshima World Peace Mission, an A-bomb 60th anniversary project sponsored by the Hiroshima International Cultural Foundation, returned home after peace exchanges in the Republic of South Africa and Iran. Wherever they went, the five citizen-members, including a hibakusha, spoke about the damage inflicted by the atomic bomb and learned a great deal through their encounters.

The first stop was South Africa, the only country in the world to abolish its nuclear weapons. Ten years after the end of apartheid and the shift to democracy, they are seeking to build what former president Nelson Mandela calls a "rainbow nation," totally free of racial discrimination. The Hiroshima participants found both light and dark in the new South Africa. (text and photos by Koichi Okada)

Just past noon, March 27. Somehow, my body feels heavy. I'm too tired to be hungry. It had taken 48 hours to travel from Hiroshima to Johannesburg. Due to fog, we had to stop for a day in Dubai (Arab Emirate Republic).

The day we arrived was a rest day, but that fine plan fell through. We arrived at the hotel, took a shower, and that was all the rest we got. Without sleep or food, we climbed into our rented station wagon and headed for a "citizen exchange" in the nation's capital Pretoria, 70 kilometers to the north.

-Working with Earth Life

About an hour later, we arrived at a park in the center of town. In the middle stood an enormous bronze statue. The broad base of the sculpture had become a stage where about ten young black Africans were singing rhythmically. They were members of the local anti-nuclear, environmental protection group Earth Life. Their joint event with the Peace Mission was already underway.

As soon as the Peace Mission arrived they were invited up onto the stage. Soon, hibakusha Takashi Teramoto (69) was standing in front of A-bomb posters telling his A-bomb experience. Haruka Katarao (21), a college senior from Asakita-ku, Hiroshima, interpreted his words into English. Then, the leader of the Earth Life Mashile Parane (36) translated Haruka's English into the local Basotho.

It's early fall in the southern hemisphere, but the sun's rays were stinging hot. Perhaps out of nervousness, Teramoto was unable to continue his regular testimony. With the double translation, it was taking too long. It took about 45 minutes, and the audience of nearly a hundred listened intently with sweat glistening on their foreheads.

Teramoto wrapped up saying, "Let's join hands to make sure the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never happen to any children anywhere ever again." He had been 10 at the time of the bombing. His mother, who had been in the same house, died nine days later. At one point, he had been called "Pika" (flash) because of the scars all over his body.

Parane, speaking for the crowd, said, "Thank you so much for telling us your experience, I know we all understand much better the true horror of nuclear weapons."

-Dangerous Work

A nuclear facility stands close to an area inhabited by many Blacks. Panera told us, "At nuclear power plants, Blacks are assigned the most dangerous jobs without being adequately instructed in the dangers of radiation. The same is true of the workers in uranium mines." Even now after the end of apartheid, the most dangerous jobs are pushed onto Blacks.

Most of the people who had come to the meeting live near the nuclear facility or the former nuclear weapons factory in the outskirts of Pretoria. The citizens' movement in South Africa focuses mainly on human rights. Most don't even know that their country once had nuclear weapons. Groups like Earth Life represent a small minority, but Panera struck a chord of hope when she said, "After this encounter with Hiroshima, I intend to do a health survey of the people living near the nuclear facility."

The participants on the first team of the Hiroshima World Peace Mission were (honorifics omitted): Takashi Teramoto (69): A-bomb survivor, Ohno-cho Hiroshima Prefecture Shizuko Tsuya (49): Pharmacist, Higashi-ku Hiroshima City Yoshihiko Fujimoto (39): Associate professor, Nishi-ku Hiroshima City Akira Koyama (25): Language school student, Higashi-ku Hiroshima City Haruka Katarao (21): College senior, Kodaira City Tokyo

(Caption)Teramoto (left) telling his A-bomb story at the outdoor rally with the members of Earth Life. Standing next to him is Katarao who is interpreting into English.