Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth is a phrase we often see and use during the holiday season. It is a sentiment that is shared by people around the world from all walks of life. A holiday wish that we all hope would be granted during our lifetime.

This hope for peace runs deep with the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). They were eye-witnesses to mankind's worst act of violence against innocent people in all of history. They have seen and felt the devastation that nuclear weapons have had on the land, on the people and on themselves. It is personal for them. 

It is their stories and their experiences that has led to the Hibakusha's Legacy: Hope for Peace project that began as an idea back in 2009. The original idea was to photograph atomic bomb survivors and create a traveling exhibit to promote peace by sharing their stories, but it has morphed into more, including some haikus based on their testimonies.

After meeting with over 400 survivors in Japan, South Korea, Brazil and the USA, it became clear that documenting their stories on video would be a necessary part of the exhibit because hearing them talk about their experiences was far more impactful than taking a still photograph. Together, they provide deeper insight into what happened and how it affected the people who survived. Click on this link to see a compilation of some of the interviews done from 2011-2013. Hope for Peace video

Sharing their stories has become my life's work. Unfortunately, they will not be with us forever. The average age of the hibakusha is now 83-years old, so it is important that we document as many of their stories as we can while they are still able to. As a Director for the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors (ASA), I would like to humbly request your support so that we can continue to document their stories. We still have over 75 hibakusha in 6 countries - Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Canada and the United States - who have said they want to share their stories.

If Peace on Earth rings in your heart, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors. We are a 501(c)3 organization based in Southern California and can provide a receipt for your contribution. Please see the 'donations' instructions on the right (web/desktop version) on how to send us a donation. We are working on adding an online link on our website, but it is not fully functional yet. We apologize for the inconvenience.

For more information about ASA, please click here to visit our website.

Thank you for your support. Arigatou gozaimashita! Peace begins with us.

Darrell Miho, Director, ASA