Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered
On August 9th, the Embassy of Japan and the Diefenbunker Museum held joint programming to recognize the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As part of the day’s programming, Diefenbunker Artist in Residence, Jesse Stewart, offered 4 sold-out performances in the Museum’s ‘Requiem’ exhibit, a space that looks at the devastating after effects of the bombings of 1945. The ambiance of the exhibit, combined with the haunting sound of the waterphone, allowed visitors to reflect on the devastating attacks and the thousands of lives lost.
In his opening remarks, Minister Karube reflected on the destruction caused by the attacks, the lives lost and the hardships of illness and disability of the survivors. As the only country in human history to have experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war, he reiterated Japan’s commitment to raising awareness of the impact of nuclear weapons. Diefenbunker Executive Director Henriette Riegel echoed these sentiments saying that the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki should never be forgotten.
For the third consecutive year, the Diefenbunker has undertaken the Paper Cranes for Peace project, which aims to fold 1000 paper cranes to send to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima in memory of Sadako Sasaki, who while suffering from leukemia following the attack, had the goal of folding 1000 paper cranes.
Staff from the Embassy was on hand to demonstrate how to fold the paper cranes as well as to help visitors try Japanese calligraphy, writing the characters for peace, hope and future.
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