Artist records memories of Hiroshima

While in Japan, Fiona visited Hiroshima's hibakujumoku or survivor (A-bombed) trees and learnt about their history and importance to locals

Japan’s relationship with nuclear technologies can be defined by the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011. 

Both of these contexts have resulted in complex socio-cultural perspectives towards anything nuclear related, be it energy production or military affiliated. Subsequently, networks of intergenerational anti-nuclear activist groups span Japan, with specific focal points in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo. 

My trip to Japan specifically worked with a range of activists from Hiroshima and Tokyo. About a month before I was set to depart, the grassroots organisation Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations) were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in recording witness testimonies and their actions involving lobbying for survivors as well as nuclear disarmament and abolition. 

The timing of this award felt so significant, not just for my project with its focus on anti-nuclear activism, but also for a world where the relationships between the horrors of our present geo-political context—where countries from every continent are engaged in warfare, which in some cases is genocidal in intent—and its historical legacies requires further critical attention. 

Nihon Hidankyo received a lot of media attention post being awarded the prize. While watching the various interviews and reading news articles, I started to feel quite awestruck that I was going to be meeting the Co-Chair, Mr Terumi Tanaka-san.

Fiona with Nihon Hidankyo co-chair Mr Terumi Tanaka-san (left) and Sadae Kasaoka-san (right) - a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

As expected, meeting Mr Tanaka-san was beyond humbling. Sitting with him as he described his experiences of the Nagasaki bombing in such vivid detail—namely his five family members that were brutally killed—nearly eighty years later prompted in me a kind of urgency with respect to our current geo-political moment. 

Mr Tanaka-san spoke about how the collective voices of Hibakusha have a responsibility to communicate, while they still can, the realities of experiencing a nuclear attack so that it never happens again. More than ever before, their message is crucial to our future world. 

Aside from meeting Mr Tanaka-san, plus other members of Nihon Hidankyo, I also met many other people of different ages and relationships to nuclear contexts; some experienced the atomic attacks first hand and now actively tell their stories via museums and education groups; some are involved in Peace Boat, an NGO that promotes peace, human rights, and sustainability; some look after what are known as survivor-trees (hibakujumoku), a group of just over 170 trees that survived the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and some are connected to the ‘Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons’.

Everyone I met either knew of or had heard of each other; they are all deeply committed to the work of nuclear abolition. It was so impacting to experience these different generations coming together for a common cause.

While in Hiroshima, I spent a lot of time with what are known as hibakujumoku, or survivor (A-bombed) trees in English.

Fiona: "These trees, like the humans and animals of this city, were subjected to an enormous shockwave that created hurricane force winds, flattening everything encountered."

Approximately 160 trees, located within a two-kilometre radius from the hypocentre, survived the atomic bombing. Some of the trees are over three hundred years old.  Most of them contain scars from the bombing on their trunks, and the ones that are closest to the hypocentre have a pronounced lean. 

These trees, like the humans and animals of this city, were subjected to an enormous shockwave that created hurricane force winds, flattening everything encountered. Almost immediately, a huge fireball followed that created surface temperatures of 7,700 degrees Celsius. 

Within two kilometres of the hypocentre, the entire city burned to the ground as temperatures reached 3,000 to 4,000 degrees Celsius.

hibakujumoku are wrapped in rope to protect the tree from harm and to acknowledge its resilience in surviving the atomic bomb

In addition to the blast shockwave and intense heat caused by the fires, was the release of massive amounts of ionising radiation, which would have penetrated these trees, altering their DNA. Considering the enormity of what happened, it is phenomenal that anything survived—trees, human and otherwise.

When I met Kuniko-san and Tomoko-san, who work with the organisation that looks after the hibakujumoku, they told me that each tree has its own special story of what it experienced and saw. They think the trees communicate these stories through their silent presence throughout the city. 

Fiona: "...I was struck by how each tree uniquely bears witness to the horrors of what humans can do to one another."

As I followed the various maps to the different trees—so that I could photograph and film—I was struck by how each tree uniquely bears witness to the horrors of what humans can do to one another.

I also thought about how incredible it would have been to see these green shoots of new life emerging from the absolute decimation of this city and its people several months after the attack.

When I visited Hibakusha and listened to their stories and experiences, we would talk about how special the hibakujumoku are, and how these tree-witnesses will outlive us humans.

I asked the people I met that if we take the time to listen to these trees, what would they be saying about what they have seen and felt.

Fiona (centre front) visiting the Peace Boat offices in Tokyo

When I asked Mr Tanaka-san these questions, he said as if he was speaking through the trees: “We are still here. We have had these horrific things happens to us, but we have not given up.  We are still here and we are still surviving.  Do not pity me, of course something really sad happened to me, but do not just feel sorry for me.  Use that sadness of what happened to me, to make sure this does not happen to again.”  

I replied, commenting that the hibakujumoku are our ultimate teachers; Mr Tanaka-san agreed saying that they convey the sacredness of all life, humans, trees and otherwise.

The Foundation's Arts Programme brings Asia into the mainstream of New Zealand arts by inspiring New Zealand arts professionals to grow their connections and knowledge of Asia. It also supports the presentation of Asian arts in partnership with New Zealand arts organisations and events.

Our Arts Practitioners Fund provides support for experiential opportunities for individual New Zealand-based arts practitioners to deepen artistic and professional connections with Asia, including residencies, work placements, research tours and exchanges.