80 Years on: Visit to the UK by Hibakusha and Youth
2025/6/16
This year marks the 80th year since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To further strengthen efforts to share the reality of the damage caused by atomic bombings with the world, Ms Teruko Yahata and Mr Kunihiko Iida, hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombing) from Hiroshima who were appointed “Special Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons” by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited the UK. Youth “Special Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons”, Ms Tsugumi Inoue, Ms Natsumi Masumoto, and Ms Megumi Yahata McGowan, who are engaged in activities to pass on the experiences of hibakusha, joined Ms Yahata and Mr Iida in London where they gave talks and participated in other activities.
On 15 June, the five visitors visited Japan House London and interacted with young people from secondary schools, colleges and universities in the UK. Participants had the opportunity to hear directly from hibakusha about their experiences and exchanged views on nuclear abolition and peace.
On 16 June, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki met with the five visitors at the Embassy and encouraged their activities for peace. They also visited Westminster Abbey, where they received sembazuru, a thousand origami cranes, folded as prayers for peace.
On the same day, the hibakusha and youth representatives gave talks at Japan House London about their experiences and peace activities, sharing the horrific aftermath immediately following the bombings, the many hardships endured by the survivors, and their strong hopes for nuclear abolition and lasting peace.
On 15 June, the five visitors visited Japan House London and interacted with young people from secondary schools, colleges and universities in the UK. Participants had the opportunity to hear directly from hibakusha about their experiences and exchanged views on nuclear abolition and peace.
On 16 June, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki met with the five visitors at the Embassy and encouraged their activities for peace. They also visited Westminster Abbey, where they received sembazuru, a thousand origami cranes, folded as prayers for peace.
On the same day, the hibakusha and youth representatives gave talks at Japan House London about their experiences and peace activities, sharing the horrific aftermath immediately following the bombings, the many hardships endured by the survivors, and their strong hopes for nuclear abolition and lasting peace.