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A-bombed artist to distribute ‘war brooms’ in Hiroshima as he calls for nuclear abolition

June 11, 2023 (Mainichi Japan)

SHIKAOI, Hokkaido — A Hiroshima A-bomb survivor ink artist seeking to amplify his nuclear abolition message will hand out miniature brooms signifying the renunciation of war in front of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, coinciding with his art show opening in the city on June 24.

Miki Tsukishita, 82, a resident of the Hokkaido town of Shikaoi, was exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing in Hiroshima when he was 4 years old. He is upset that the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit held in the A-bombed city from May 19 to 21 recognized the deterrence of war through the possession of nuclear weapons.

The joint document, “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament,” set forth the direction that the G7 would pursue to realize a world without nuclear weapons. At the same time, the document referred to nuclear deterrence. While it also pointed out the importance of nuclear nonproliferation, Tsukishita said emphatically, “What we are seeking is not nuclear nonproliferation, but nuclear abolition.”

After the summit, he wrote a letter of appeal to the participating leaders in his distinctive ink brush strokes, which was full of sarcasm, beginning with “Did the ‘okonomiyaki’ (savory pancakes that are a Hiroshima specialty) suit your palate?” It is lined with harsh phrases such as, “You left us with the continuation of nuclear nonproliferation,” “What was the purpose of your visit to Hiroshima?” “The tender ‘heart of Hiroshima’ has been trampled on by all of you.”

The feelings of the people of Hiroshima cannot be conveyed only by the appeal letter. So, in line with his already scheduled show in Hiroshima, Tsukishita decided to convey the wishes of A-bomb survivors for nuclear abolition by distributing miniature brooms, paper cranes and letters of appeal to foreign visitors to the Hiroshima museum……………………………………………..

The upcoming exhibition, titled “war brooms art exhibition,” will be held at Aster Plaza in the city of Hiroshima from June 24 to 29. In addition to Tsukishita’s ink artwork, pictures such as “The boy standing by the crematory” and a young A-bombed Chinese parasol tree will be on display. Seeds of the tree will also be handed out. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230608/p2a/00m/0na/025000c

(Japanese original by Hitoshi Suzuki, Obihiro Bureau)

June 12, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | culture and arts, Japan, opposition to nuclear