Spreading Hiroshima’s Spirit of Peaceby Tomoko Watanabe, Executive Director of ANT-Hiroshima

The A-bomb Experience
I was born in 1953, eight years after the atomic bombing. My parents are A-bombsurvivors.
During my childhood, the scars of the war and the atomic bombing were everywhere andbecame part of our daily lives.
I grew up in a large family of 15 and learned the importance of family ties and compassion
for others. One day, when I was 20, my grandfather was working in the fields and suffereda stroke. He died right in front of me. He had been the patriarch of our family and his loss
shook me deeply. I began to question the meaning of life, and death, pondering mypurpose on earth. It was the first time that I felt keenly aware of the fact that I was born in
Hiroshima to parents who were survivors of the atomic bomb.
When Hiroshima was attacked, in August 1945, my father was 27. He was riding on a train
that had stopped at the city’s main station. This shielded him from the bomb’s heat rays so
he wasn’t burned alive when the bomb exploded.
My mother was 15 at the time. She was a student at the Red Cross nursing school, andmanaged to survive the blast by quickly diving under her desk.
My father wouldn’t tell me about his experience of the bombing in any detail, but I recall
one story where he gave some oil to the survivors to help treat their burns. His words still
come back to me: “There was nothing we could do but keep on going, keep on living.”
My mother wouldn’t discuss her experience of the bombing, either. But when I was incollege, I organized a screening of a film about Hiroshima. At that point, she slowly begansharing her account with me. She told me about a classmate who couldn’t be rescued fromthe wreckage of the building; a baby crying in its dying mother’s arms in front of the Red
Cross hospital; a patient she helped carry from his hospital bed; the relief efforts she made,without rest, to assist the survivors.
And as I heard these moving stories from my mother, and from others, I became motivatedto learn more about the atomic bombing and the significance of Hiroshima. I even decided
to make this the subject of my graduate thesis. For my research, I spent many hours
listening to the accounts of people who were part of Hiroshima’s history. From them, andtheir way of living, I was able to learn so much. I gained the courage to endure difficulties
and the firm belief that we must never give up.
The more familiar I became with Hiroshima’s A-bomb experience, the more profound its
meaning grew. I came to feel that I wanted Hiroshima to be at the heart of my work for therest of my life. And ever since, hand in hand with many others, I have pursued activities
which I hope can impact people’s lives for the better while spreading Hiroshima’s spirit ofpeace.

Destruction and Rebirth
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., an atomic bomb exploded above the city of Hiroshima. It
is estimated that, out of a population of roughly 350,000 at the time, about 140,000 people
were dead by the end of December 1945. Among the victims, along with Japanese
residents, were people from a variety of other nations, including around a dozen AmericanPOWs.
This widespread death toll and destruction was caused by a number of factors, which
combined to create a staggering catastrophe:
1. The heat rays from the huge fireball in the sky charred human flesh and ignited fires
throughout the city center.
2. The blast released a shock wave which blew people into the air like rag dolls, toppledbuildings, and sent shattered glass and debris flying like projectiles.
3. People were exposed to the radiation emitted by the bomb, poisoning their bodies andcreating a range of damaging effects which have lasted to this day. Those in the city
suffered primary exposure to the radiation, while others, who entered the city in theaftermath, experienced secondary exposure.
Despite the overwhelming destruction left by the world’s first nuclear attack, the survivorsof Hiroshima, along with generous support from other parts of Japan and from the world,
were able to gradually reconstruct the city through the postwar period. At the same time,
Hiroshima was transformed from a military city to a city of peace, which has come to serve
as a touchstone for peace in the world.
Behind Hiroshima’s rebirth were three key factors:
1. Human dignity was restored through efforts to meet basic needs, including shelter,clothing, food, water, medical care, meaningful work, and the personal expression ofopinions and emotions.
2. Hope rose again, and a positive outlook grew, as the war came to an end; nature itself
showed new life with trees, plants, and flowers growing amid the ruins; support arrived
from others, near and far; and the beauty of life could again be appreciated through music,
the arts, sports, and social activities.
3. The reconstruction of the city was realized through a national law and funds whichfacilitated the reconstruction work, assistance from other parts of Japan and overseas, anda vision for transforming Hiroshima into a city of peace, with Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Park at the heart of this effort.
Meanwhile, the survivors of the atomic bombing were able to overcome their own suffering
to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons and war for the sake of the whole human race.
As witnesses to the horror of nuclear arms, their voices have been vital in the worldwide
campaign to eliminate these weapons from the earth.

A Fortress of Peace
However, the number of A-bomb survivors, as well as those who witnessed the process ofreconstructing the city after the war, has been declining steadily as the years pass.
Hiroshima has an important mission, which is to hand down the survivors' experiences tofuture generations, and prevent the memory of the horrific destruction from fading inpeople’s minds.
This mission consists of the following five actions:
1. Convey the reality of the A-bomb damage to people in Japan and around the world
2. Make efforts to advance the goal of abolishing nuclear weapons from the earth
3. Pursue peace-building activities in places of need
4. Promote peace education and peace culture
5. Develop new generations of peace builders
These are large aims, and they can only be advanced with the people of the world working
together, each doing their own small part.
When I was writing my thesis, I received a lot of good advice on this point from a man
named Seiichi Nakano. He was a professor at Hiroshima University during the time of thecity’s reconstruction, and he opened his home to children who became orphaned as aconsequence of the atomic bombing. The “Ayumi Group” was Professor Nakano’s effort tocare for these children in place of their parents. With a warm heart, he considered how best
the children could live, and he did everything he could for them.
The motto of the Ayumi Group was “take baby steps together” and “peace is part of dailylife.” Professor Nakano cherished human ties and was often heard to say, “Build a fortressof peace in your mind.” His words, and the way of life he and his wife led, have strongly
influenced the person I am today.
In order to find peace in our daily lives, we need to reflect on whether the state of ourminds, our behavior, and our relationships with others are peaceful or not. At the sametime, the words “take baby steps together” encourage us to move forward with others by
our side, even if our pace is slow. And as we pursue Hiroshima’s mission, we mustn’t forget
the task of building that “fortress of peace” in our minds, the same aim that Professor
Nakano held for the Ayumi Group.
Through my work, I’ve met many young people who want to learn more about the world
today and help build a better world for tomorrow. I hope they will take steps to put their
enthusiasm into action. By being proactive, the world around you can change. And don’t beafraid of failure; you can learn a lot from your mistakes, lessons that will enable you togrow and become more effective.
If you continue your efforts--even if those efforts seem very small--your network of likeminded people, and the impact of your work, will expand. This is exactly the thinking
behind my organization, ANT-Hiroshima.

ANT-Hiroshima’s Work
ANT-Hiroshima, an NGO based in Hiroshima, Japan, draws its inspiration from theexperience of the A-bomb survivors who, together with international support, worked torebuild their shattered city in a spirit of peace and reconciliation. In a similar spirit, ANTHiroshima is involved in a range of international peace activities, international
cooperation activities, and educational activities.
In one sense, “ANT” denotes the insect because the name represents our belief that, asindividuals, our power is small, but by working together, we can move the world. At thesame time, it stands for “Asian Network of Trust.” We believe that the foundation for all
our activities is the feeling of trust between people.
In 2013, ANT-Hiroshima marked its 25th year. Highlights of our work over the pastquarter-century include:

International Peace Activities
Supporting international efforts for nuclear abolition and peace-building
Pursuing a vision both local and global in scope, ANT-Hiroshima is a strong supporter oforganizations and individuals seeking to abolish nuclear weapons and promote peace inthe world, including Mayors for Peace and writers, journalists, and peace activists.
Producing films and DVDs about A-bomb survivors
ANT-Hiroshima has served as consulting producer for two award-winning documentaries
by U.S. filmmaker Steven Okazaki: “White Light/Black Rain” and “The Mushroom Club.”In our efforts to record the past for future generations, we have also produced a series ofDVDs which feature the life stories of A-bomb survivors and sufferers of war.
Donating “Sadako” books to the world
ANT-Hiroshima has produced two children’s books about the life of Sadako Sasaki, a girlfrom Hiroshima who died of leukemia, an aftereffect of radiation from the atomic bomb.
These books are available in a wide range of languages and thousands of copies have been
donated to nations around the world, particularly in places hit by conflict or disaster.
Sadako’s story, with its message of courage and hope, is an inspiration to the hearts ofchildren everywhere.
Establishing the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative
In cooperation with UNITAR, ANT-Hiroshima has established the Green Legacy
Hiroshima Initiative to spread the seeds and saplings of A-bombed trees to places
throughout the world. The planting and growth of new generations of A-bombed trees
serves to promote Hiroshima’s spirit of peace.
Supporting peace efforts in Mindanao, the Philippines
ANT-Hiroshima is an active partner in peace education efforts in Mindanao, helping tocreate “Peace Crane Centers” in secondary schools to cultivate peace culture among young
people in the area.

International Cooperation Activities
Constructing a new health care facility in Pakistan
In cooperation with HOPE ‘87-Pakistan and other organizations, we helped construct a
new health care facility in the Shamshatoo District, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan, for Afghan refugees and local Pakistanis. The successful outcome of this project
can be attributed to the trust-building that took place over 12 years of efforts.
Sponsoring an elementary school in Kashmir
ANT-Hiroshima has provided financial support for the operating costs of Sadako Primary
School, a school inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki and constructed by the Sadako
Foundation, a Pakistani NGO, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck
Pakistan in 2005.
Constructing a new water system in Mindanao, the Philippines
We also provided financial support for the construction of a new water system and sanitaryfacilities in Lanao Province, a project pursued by RIDO Incorporated to help address
poverty and conflict in the area. The shared need for safe water and sanitation among all
parties serves as a vehicle for cooperation and trust-building.
Providing support for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake
ANT-Hiroshima has played a central role in coordinating support from Hiroshimaorganizations for the relief and reconstruction efforts in eastern Japan following the Great
East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. This support, intended to address the physical andpsychological needs of those affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster,
includes assistance to displaced families and individuals who have left the area andresettled in Hiroshima.
Organizing Art Party, a benefit art exhibition
For ten years, starting in 2003, ANT-Hiroshima organized Art Party, a benefit art
exhibition held annually in Hiroshima. Every December, artwork created by children inneed from countries around the world—each time, about 300 pictures from 15 countries—
was displayed and sold at a large gallery and 100% of the proceeds were returned to theparticipating children’s groups as a donation. Art Party was not only a fundraising effort, it
was a way to use art to advance global education.

Educational Activities
Facilitating scholarships for education
ANT-Hiroshima is involved in facilitating scholarships between financial supporters andstudent-recipients. Candidates for ANT scholarships show exceptional promise in making
use of their intended studies to bring benefit to the world in some way.
Organizing peace education and peace culture activities
ANT-Hiroshima organizes a variety of activities to promote peace education and peace
culture, such as: arranging lectures, workships, film screenings, concerts, and art
exhibitions with peace-related themes; coordinating exchange projects for students; andsupporting groups of young people involved in their own peace activities.

Arranging internships and volunteer experiences
ANT-Hiroshima is involved in arranging internships and volunteer experiences, both at
the ANT-Hiroshima office and at other locations in Hiroshima and internationally.
Providing professional services in educational settings
As the executive director of ANT-Hiroshima, I frequently serve as a lecturer in schools, aworkshop facilitator for groups, and a media commentator.
Resources
ANTNews.Hiroshima-Nagasaki.net
ANT-Hiroshima.org