Attendance at ‘Voices of Nagasaki’s Atomic Bomb Survivors’ event
2025/5/15
On 15 May, Cultural Consul Mr Masataka Abe attended a lecture entitled "Voices of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors" held at the University of Edinburgh which featured atomic bomb survivors Dr. Masao Tomonaga, Chiyoko Motomura, and second generation atomic bomb survivor Tomoko Otaki. The event was organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Edinburgh and the Nagasaki Hibakusha Notebook Friendship Association.
At this lecture, Chiyoko Motomura, who was six years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, shared her memories of what happened on 9 August, 1945. Dr. Masao Tomonaga, who was exposed to the atomic bomb at the age of two and has spent his life researching the medical effects of the atomic bomb, spoke in detail about the situation from a medical perspective based on his research to date.
Finally, Tomoko Otaki, a second-generation atomic bomb survivor, emphasized that there are few survivors left today who can talk about their experiences of the atomic bomb, and so it is becoming increasingly important to pass on these memories to future generations. She spoke about her own activities, including her thoughts on the role of second-generation atomic bomb survivors.
The venue was attended by a diverse range of people, including not only students but also families with children. During the question and answer session with the speakers, lively discussions were held on topics such as the nature of education for passing on these stories to the next generation, the outlook in light of current international climates, and the concept of "Peace." It was a valuable opportunity to think about the past, present, and future.
At this lecture, Chiyoko Motomura, who was six years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, shared her memories of what happened on 9 August, 1945. Dr. Masao Tomonaga, who was exposed to the atomic bomb at the age of two and has spent his life researching the medical effects of the atomic bomb, spoke in detail about the situation from a medical perspective based on his research to date.
Finally, Tomoko Otaki, a second-generation atomic bomb survivor, emphasized that there are few survivors left today who can talk about their experiences of the atomic bomb, and so it is becoming increasingly important to pass on these memories to future generations. She spoke about her own activities, including her thoughts on the role of second-generation atomic bomb survivors.
The venue was attended by a diverse range of people, including not only students but also families with children. During the question and answer session with the speakers, lively discussions were held on topics such as the nature of education for passing on these stories to the next generation, the outlook in light of current international climates, and the concept of "Peace." It was a valuable opportunity to think about the past, present, and future.