Remembering Hiroshima 75 years on

I have a small number of achievements in which I feel a genuine pride.  Topping the not so long list is having a World Peace Bell gifted to New Zealand, from Japan, in 2004. It is a prominent feature in Christchurch Botanic Gardens. We always remember Hiroshima Day on August 6. We ring the bell at the time (8.15 am Japan time) when the first Atomic bomb was used in armed conflict. Three days later the United States dropped a second Atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Both events claimed a combined 250,000 casualties, mostly civilians. Half died instantly. The rest died over time from shocking injury and/or radiation sickness.

This year the event brought out about 100 peace supporters.

We had hoped to have Hiroshima survivor, James Morikawa, with us. Covid-19 travel restrictions  made that impossible. James was to be sponsored by Mazda NZ for whom he had once worked.

Instead James wrote a message that was read by Sarina Mackey, a 13-year student at an Auckland Diocesan school. . She travelled to Christchurch with her Grandfather Allan Mackey, a long-time friend of Morikawa-san. Sarina is part Japanese. Her parents, Tim and Risa, live in Tokyo. Tim is Allan Mackey’s son. His wife Risa, is Japanese.

We displayed a photograph of James Morikawa as a boy picnicking with his family under a cherry tree about seven months after the Hiroshima bombing.

                                                         James is the boy with the cap

Sarina was asked to ring the bell at the appointed time. Then, reading Morikawa’s address which she had helped to translate, she was a busy young lady.

                                                                 Sarina Mackey

We had a commendable line-up of speakers. Japanese Consular David Tsunakake, made a point of saying 75 years’s on there was no ill-felling towards Americans.

                                                           David Tsunakake, Japan Consular

Councillor, Melanie Coker, spoke on behalf of Christchurch City Council.

Anglican Dean, the Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley, spoke about Hiroshima and Nagasaki from a Christian viewpoint. He quoted Blessed are the Peacemakers from the Sermon on the Mount and that, along with other religions, we believe we are created in the image of God. It is when we lose sight of that we can get involved in conflict. Conflict is also triggered as a result of not accepting some people who look different and are different from us. . We are challenged to treat such people with the respect they deserve.

                                                      Very Reverend, Lawrence Kimberley

Allan Mackey gave an impromptu address outlining his association with Japan and particularly his friendship with James Morikawa. He also said the Mazda sponsorship of the Hiroshima survivor will stand if he is able to visit New Zealand next year. A group of us chatted over coffee after the event in the warmth of the nearby Ilex Centre café.

                                                          Allan Mackey

Allan and Sarina Mackey said they enjoyed visiting the New Zealand World Peace Bell and expressed interest in returning in August 2021.

                                                  New Zealand World Peace Bell