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Hibakusha Dialogue: A Pathway to Peace

On August 8, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the Pal System Saitama Cooperative will host the "Hibakusha Dialogue" event at their activity facility, "Pal Terasu," located in the Urawa district of Saitama City. This significant event brings together atomic bomb survivors and the next generation to discuss the importance of a world free from nuclear weapons. Together, they will reflect on the meaning of passing on narratives of peace.

A Voice from the Past: Noriko Sakashita

Leading the narrative will be Noriko Sakashita, a poet and essayist who survived the Hiroshima bombing at just two years old. Although she has no personal recollections of the event, she actively shares her family's experiences related to the physical and psychological traumas caused by the bombing. Sakashita, carrying the emotional weight of her mother's regret—who continually lamented her child's suffering—transitioned this memory into what she calls a "baton of life" that she now presents to future generations.

As a "Non-Nuclear Envoy" appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she participates in the "Hibakusha Global Testimony Voyage" organized by the international NGO Peace Boat. During these voyages, she has traveled to 14 cities in 12 countries, amplifying the call for nuclear disarmament. At the event, she will be joined by Saori Koga, a member of the Peace Boat team who has worked closely with survivors, facilitating discussions that aim to deepen understanding among attendees.

Bridging Generations Through the Hibakusha Dialogue Project

This event is part of the "Hibakusha Dialogue" initiative, which is coordinated by the No Nukes Japan campaign, based in Toshima, Tokyo. The project aims to cultivate dialogues between survivors and younger activists committed to advocating for a world devoid of nuclear weapons. It seeks to emphasize the urgency of nuclear disarmament as the average age of survivors soars past 86 years, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Opportunities to hear first-hand accounts are dwindling, making this dialogue crucial for future generations to understand the reality of the devastation caused by nuclear armaments.

Attendees will not only engage in face-to-face conversations but will also have the opportunity to participate online, allowing for a wider community engagement around the discourse of peace.

Event Summary

• - Date: August 8, 2025, (Friday) 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

• - Location: Pal Terasu Activity Center, 10-7 Higashinakamachi, Urawa, Saitama

• - Access: A 3-minute walk from JR Urawa Station, East Exit

• - More Information Here
• - Participation Fee: Free of Charge

• - Capacity: 25 in-person, 50 online

• - Application Deadline: July 27, Sunday

This initiative signifies a collective goal at Pal System Saitama to engage members in ongoing peace efforts and contemplate feasible actions for a peaceful future.

Speaker Profiles

Noriko Sakashita

Noriko Sakashita is a poet and essayist who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at two years old. She has participated twice in the "Hibakusha Global Testimony Voyage" and has been dedicated to sharing peace education with middle and high school students. Her notable works include Peace Garden: A Garden of Continuation and the poetry collection Smile.

Saori Koga

Born in 1988 in Saga Prefecture, Saori Koga worked as a facilitator for the "Hibakusha Global Testimony Voyage" from 2010 to 2015, supporting survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She has organized testimony sessions in over 20 countries. Now a paralegal and a mother of two, she continues to engage with survivors while managing public relations at the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Center.

Pal System Saitama remains committed to fostering discussions around peace and taking actionable steps alongside its members.