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2 Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors to visit the CNMI
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Posted on May 18 2005
Two survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing at the close of World War II will be visiting the CNMI this August to recount the horrific event through the Hibakusha Experience.
One of the survivors set to visit the islands is Keijiro Matsushima, a member of Hibakusha, loosely translated to mean survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. He is also a member of the Atomic Bomb Teacher’s Transmit Experiences of Hiroshima.
Matsushima is expected to share his experience from the events that transpired on Aug. 6, 1945, which, along with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, are widely regarded as the turning points that bought Japan to the peace table, ending World War II.
Program coordinator Jennifer Borja said the Hibakusha Experience would give the public firsthand accounts of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, as well as mark the 60th year anniversary of the events. Borja said they are also planning to fly two more speakers from Nagasaki.
Aside from the experience-sharing portion of the event, the Hibakusha Experience would also have a poster exhibit, comprising 30 posters, 90cm x 90cm in size, depicting the horrors of the atomic bomb.
Borja said the Hiroshima Peace Museum is also helping out in the Hibakusha Experience by sending two special volunteers to set up the display. One of the volunteers is Takeshi Hasegawa.
The Tinian 10th Municipal Council and Tinian Mayor’s Office will be sponsoring the Hibakusha Experience and are the main distributors of the tickets.
Tinian has taken a keen interest on the project because the island is where the two B-29 Superfortress bombers took off on their way to Hiroshima and Nagasaki six decades ago.
