The Legacy of Hiroshima: A Call for Nuclear Disarmament
Imagine a landscape where buildings lay shattered, a city wiped clean, and the sea visible where once stood a vibrant community. This is the haunting memory that Toshiyuki Mimaki carries with him, a survivor of the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima in 1945.
Now, at 82 years old, Mimaki reflects on that fateful day and the mission he has dedicated his life to. As the co-president of Nihon Hidankyo, a foundation committed to nuclear disarmament and founded by survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Mimaki recently accepted the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
Through the power of storytelling and the legacy of the hibakusha, Mimaki and his fellow survivors strive to ensure that the world never forgets the horrors of nuclear weapons. Their mission becomes more urgent as time passes and the remaining survivors grow older.
During Pope Francis’s visit to Japan in 2019, Mimaki had the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons. The Pope’s dedication to this cause deeply resonated with Mimaki, who treasures the memory of their meeting and the Pope’s commitment to peace.
As we approach the International Day of Peace, Mimaki calls on world leaders to commit to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. With conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine escalating and the threat of nuclear weapons being used once again, the urgency of this mission cannot be understated.
Mimaki urges everyone to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki and witness firsthand the devastating impact of nuclear weapons on human life. The time to act is now, before it’s too late.
Let us heed Mimaki’s call for peace and join him in his mission to ensure that the horrors of Hiroshima are never repeated.
By Alessandro Gisotti
