At Hiroshima

   The 8th Hiroshima Peace Study Session was held at the Kyoto chapter this year. The group originally started with international students wanting to go to Hiroshima They all put their ideas together and continued to build the group with the desire for others to learn. I wonder what they thought and learned in the past two months.
   On July 19th, the Hiroshima Peace Study Session was held at the Campus Plaza Kyoto. In the morning, there was the international student’s presentation and Rumi Hanagaki’s speech on the atomic bombing. In the evening, people were divided into five groups and had a discussion meeting.
   Each of the five international students presented on the different views of Hiroshima. They stated their ideas of world peace from their own countries point of view and through the study sessions that were held before. Many questions were asked by the participants how the topic of Hiroshima was taught in their countries. They were very nervous but they answered seriously in Japanese on what they thought about Hiroshima. I think they were able to get their point across to the participants by presenting the impression of Hiroshima tour through the victim’s words.
   We had Mrs. Hanagaki give a speech about her personal experience of the atomic bombing and about her life after the war. The participants listened eagerly while Mrs. Hanagaki explained in tears. We also had her friend, Mrs. Takagoshi perform a story illustrated with picture cards called “The Old Lady’s Doll” before the lecture. The students of Bukkyo University used Mrs. Hanagaki as a model for this paper story. Mrs. Hanagaki appealed the hope of peace to the participants of the meeting.
   In the afternoon discussion, each group discussed about peace from various angles. They also discussed about what one can do for the future and exchanged bright opinions. After the discussion meeting, each group stated sumo wrestlers and one of the their ability is obviously less than the other. Do you think one will fight or surrender? Mongolian sumo wrestlers will not give up and will definitely fight till the end. I think it’s because of their disposition from birth and their way of sticking out till the end. The Opening of the Hiroshima Peace Study Session their ideas and shared as an entire group. One international student explained, “having a peace study session itself is a small peace.” Later, everyone shared their thoughts and opinions of the discussion meeting.
   The Hiroshima Peace Study Session of the Kyoto chapter ended successfully. I think the international students will look back at the things they learned and felt once they return to their country. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to open a Hiroshima Peace Study Session at Kyoto. I am also thankful for all the help we received from the participants of the district and the AFS members. I believe there is some sort of peace left in each person that participated that day.
   Including both the prediscussion meeting and tour, we were able to have the Hiroshima Peace Study Session with the help and support of many people. I would like to thank the graduating students, participants of the meeting, people we met in Hiroshima, the victim and to all the people who participated after the meeting. Thank you again!

(AFS, “Okoshiyasu Communications” Reprinted from August edition, 2009)

※ AFS (American Field Service)