TC touched by A-Bomb Survivors

Published in Inside - Volume XV, No. 9

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audience

The TC community was moved by the three survivor stories, each of which made a lasting impression.

TC touched by A-Bomb Survivors

On Monday, May 3, 2010, Hideto Matsuura, Keiji Tsuchiya and Shoo Michigami, all Atomic bomb survivors, from Nagasaki and Hiroshima, visited Grace Dodge Hall, to participate in a stirring dialogue about their experiences as "Hibakusha," a term that means "atomic bomb survivors."

A unique opportunity to hear these stories firsthand, "The Hibakusha Speak" was hosted by the Peace Education Network and co-sponsored by The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs. The survivors belong to the Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese Confederation of organizations representing A-and H-Bomb Survivors, a group that has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to raise awareness about the continuing, cruel effects of the Atomic bomb.

The TC community was moved by the three survivor stories, each of which made a lasting impression. Matsuura, who experienced Hiroshima in utero, was born three months after the bomb was dropped. A 16-year-old member of the Army, Tsuchiya recalled the moment the bomb went off: he was in the midst of bringing his captain dinner, when he suddenly saw "an intense spark…a white flash," accompanied by a booming sound. He rushed outside to see "a creepy mushroom cloud being formed in the sky." Michigami, who lived in Nagasaki and was also 16 years old, shared a devastating memory of seeing his 4 year old brother, badly burned, dying in his presence.

All three also spoke of their active commitment to peace. Tsuchiya said, "As long as human beings have a rational mind, the heart to love peace and the power to act, I believe we can achieve world peace. Let us work together hand in hand."