Engaging Young Hearts: Sharing War Experiences for Peace in Fukushima

On August 1, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the Pal System Fukushima cooperative will host an interactive event titled "Let's Talk About Wars Across Generations" at their community center in Iwaki City. The event aims to connect elementary school children with individuals who experienced wartime Japan, creating a safe space for sharing stories and learning about the importance of peace.

The key speaker for this event will be Miwako Sato, a user of the cooperative's delivery service, who will share her memories of being a child during World War II. Miwako will recount her experiences of schoolchildren evacuating to safer areas, providing invaluable insights that many young attendees may find difficult to fathom in today’s peaceful context.

Alongside Miwako, Mie Soyama, a director at Pal System Fukushima, will discuss the legacies of wartime locales, focusing on Okinawa’s unique historical struggle. Soyama, alongside fellow cooperative members, will share firsthand accounts from visits to war memorials, illustrating the scars left by battles and how the current tensions in the world echo those painful memories.

One of the event's highlights will be a performance of “Chicchai Koe” (Little Voices), a paper play created by the artistic couple who illustrated the