“Remembrance of Hiroshima’s History’’ is a website dedicated to preserving the legacy of Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Akiko Mizue (who passed away in April 2022).
Akiko, after 60 years following the end of the war, felt the need to pass on the painful and sorrowful memories to future generations. In 2005, she wrote about her own and her sister Hiroko Takanashi’s experiences as survivors of the atomic bomb, and in 2007, these accounts were included in the booklet “HIROSHIMA.”
From “HIROSHIMA” Introduction
It was the summer of 2005 that I (Akiko Mizue) decided to write down my experience about the atomic bomb for my daughters and grandchildren.
I had never told the story in detail even to my family or even spoken about it with my sister for 60 years after the war. My sister, Hiroko Takanashi, also refused to do so, saying that she found it very difficult when she remembered the disaster, and therefore, we seldom talked about the atomic bomb among ourselves. However, she thought recently that she must bring down what she experienced to the next generations.
As my sister has lived in Tokyo while I have been in Osaka, we have had few opportunities to talk in a relaxed atmosphere. However, I carefully wrote down every single piece of her story when she visited me in Osaka, when I visited her in Tokyo, and when we traveled and stayed in hotels together. I also confirmed the details many times over the phone and, in 2007, wrote about two experiences with the atomic bomb: ‘Red Parasol’ on behalf of my sister, and ‘Little Michiko’, which is about my own experience.
After the War was over, citizens of Hiroshima pledged to the Atomic Bomb victims,
“Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil”.
Decades later now, it seems as if the world is on the brink of a nuclear war.
It makes relating Hiroshima experiences all the more important.
But, there will be no atomic bomb survivors in 10 years or so.
That is why I appreciate Hiroshima’s young generation for relating my Atomic Bomb experiences.
And I wish each generation would pass message of Hiroshima to the following generations.
Hiroko Takanashi
Akiko Mizue, who was 74 years old at the time, in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on August 6, 2012.
Hiroko Takanashi (1946)
On this website, we have posted videos of both the original Japanese text readings and English text readings to convey the experiences of the sisters to future generations and to the world.
“HIROSHIMA” Narration Videos
Red Parasol
The atomic bomb experience was conveyed through the voices of the younger generation.
“Red Parasol” was narrated by middle and high school students who were close in age to Hiroko at that time.
Ten students from Notre Dame Seishin Junior and Senior High School and Hiroshima Jogakuin High School practiced diligently and read with heartfelt sincerity.
Hiroko expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am thankful that the young people of Hiroshima have narrated my atomic bomb experience, and I hope that the next generation can continue to pass on Hiroshima’s message to the generations that follow”.
“Red Parasol” recounts the experience of Hiroko Takanashi, who miraculously escaped death thanks to the red parasol she was carrying amidst the many who perished due to burns and injuries.
“Little Michiko” reflects on Akiko Mizue’s feelings for her friend Michiko, who passed away alone in the chaotic hospital’s rigid corridor.
“Afterword” quietly conveys Akiko’s deep feelings for peace and her hope for the future, which she has carried as an atomic bomb survivor.
Messages from the family
My mother, Akiko Mizue, was a beautiful hearted person.
She always put others first and her gentle smile filled us with joy.
She never blamed anyone about the atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima.She thought hate leads only to hate, which is opposite to the realization of peace.
Thinking back on her life, she ended all of her letters with the word, “Peace!”She wanted to teach us children how precious peace is.
With this word, “Peace!”, my mother conveyed her sincere wish.
Through a series of videos, I hope my mother’s sincere wish for world peace will spread.
May the seeds of peace be blown by the wind to every corner of the world from Hiroshima.
Peace!
Miho Mizue
My mother was 15 years old when the atomic bomb of Hiroshima struck her.
When I was little, I was never mentioned a word about her “experience” of the atomic bombing. It was not until I got married and moved to the United States where she began to speak about the atomic bombing little by little and opened her soul once again for the right reasons. This is a story that should never be forgotten.
Today humanity lives in a peaceful period of time, so how can we imagine what it was like to experience the events that took place in a mere blink of an eye? Last year, on December 14th, 2022, she turned ninety-three, but I believe that even to this day she is awakened at night by the nightmares that took place on the day of the bombing that ended the war. Through fear and utterly gruesome violence, the world somehow came to understand world peace. There are days when I simply stand there and catch a glimpse of her sleeping, and I can only be thankful for her raising me and giving me a life that I cherish from the bottom of my heart. I absolutely have no words that can express this gratitude.
Humanity should never again resort to a nuclear arms race to maintain world peace and order. Instead, we should strive to maintain world peace in the light and beauty of life, for the benefit of future generations who have never witnessed or experienced war and the true evil that humanity is capable of unleashing.
Emiko Tominaga
My sister, Akiko Mizue, would embrace other people’s pain in her own heart.
A mere thought of Little Michiko used to make her sad.
Unfortunately, we find so many Michikos in today’s world. They are in impossible situations with no choice but to die. Akiko’s sympathy was with them.
Akiko devoted her life to relating her experiences. In April 2022, she passed away peacefully.
I would like to express my most profound gratitude to everyone who spent time completing this video in her place.
Mamoru Ishida
Past Activities
~ The Project began with “Tears of the Moon”.
This series of projects, which aims to convey events that occurred in Hiroshima and send prayers for world peace, originated from a chance encounter between the late Father Eric Freed and Hiroko Takanashi’s daughter, Emiko Tominaga, who resides in Santa Rosa, California, USA.
Hiroko Takanashi’s collection of haikus titled “Koukei,” which she published on the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing to offer remembrance and pay tribute to her friends and acquaintances who perished in the attack, came to the attention of Father Eric Freed through Emiko. Father Freed, driven by a desire to convey the tragic facts of the atomic bomb to Americans, translated the collection into English and published it as “Tears of the Moon”. This marked the beginning of the project.
～Two Accounts of Atomic Bomb Survivor Experiences: “HIROSHIMA”, the English translation of a book about the Atomic Bomb of Hiroshima
The publication of “Tears of the Moon” established a connection with Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and “Hiroshima,” which chronicles the atomic bomb experiences of Hiroko Takanashi and Akiko Mizue, was published as the English translation book “HIROSHIMA” in 2020.
- Akiko Mizue published her A-bomb experience “Little Michiko” and her sister Hiroko Takanashi’s “Red Parasol” in the booklet “HIROSHIMA”.
- Father Eric Freed translated into English a collection of Hiroko’s haiku poems about her feelings for the atomic bomb victims.
- Midori Mizukoshi and other graduates of Notre Dame Seishin Junior and Senior High School translated the booklet “HIROSHIMA” into English and published it at the suggestion of their former teacher, Sister Aiko Watanabe.
- Akiko Mizue’s atomic bomb experience. Five members of Team Akiko, including Midori Mizukoshi, read Akiko’s story in English.
- Hiroko’s atomic bomb experience. Ten female students from Hiroshima, aged 13 to 17, read Hiroko’s story.(Red Parasol)
- Akiko Mizue reflects on the atomic bombing and her life after the war, reiterating her thoughts on peace in words read by three women, including Akiko’s daughter Miho.(Afterword)
Introduction to Books
Tears of the Moon
The late Father Eric Freed, who served as a priest in California, translated and provided explanations in English for the collection of poems titled “Koukei,” which was published by Hiroko Takanashi to remember and honor the souls of her deceased acquaintances.
Father Freed decided to translate the haikus into English, believing that “the thoughts of the atomic bomb survivors are condensed in the beautiful Japanese poems and they would resonate with the hearts of Americans.” He himself walked through the atomic-bombed area, while compiling this book. During this walk he touched on the history in which many students became victims while conveying Hiroko’s thoughts and feelings.
HIROSHIMA
“HIROSHIMA” was published in 2020 as an English translation of the Japanese version titled “Hiroshima”. In addition to the sisters’ experiences of the atomic bombing, it includes messages from their brother, Mamoru Ishida, who has observed their suffering firsthand. It also includes records from Tomomasa Hirano, the founder of Ittosha, who lost his brother in a building removal in the center of Hiroshima City on August 6th.
For those in Japan, we can also send a Japanese version of “Hiroshima” as well. Please contact us through the Contact page.