Our Contributions to Maintaining Peace through Writing

The seventh grade visited Hiroshima for a field trip. During this trip, students were assigned to write journal entries after every big event, or after visiting somewhere special. These entries were based on what we saw and how it made us feel. Afterwards, we were also assigned to write poems which expressed our feelings on how we felt about the trip. There were so many exciting things during our trip to be written down! Once we returned to school, we created ABC books i.e. each letter had an entry about something we experienced at Hiroshima.  We think it is important to share some personal experiences with you, so take a look at some of the work.

Touched by the Story of Sadako 

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is a story about a real girl who lived in Hiroshima when the atom bomb was dropped. It is a simple and short story written by Eleanor Coerr, but has a strong message. Ten years after the dropping of the atom bomb, she died of leukemia caused by radiation. She was merely twelve years old then. Before her death, her friends had encouraged her to make a thousand paper cranes, which were meant to heal Sadako's sickness. She only reached 644 by the time she died, but her classmates completed the rest. Now, there is even a memorial in honor of her courage and is a symbol of peace throughout the world.

-Yuhki

Children's Peace Monument 

One thousand cranes, that is all

Then I'll stand up proud and tall

For once they're made my dream comes true

To spread the peace one never knew

I fold all day and fold all night

Hoping two countries will reunite

When they're made, the world's in peace

No more warriors must decease

I feel dizzy; will I last?

Can I make the cranes real fast?

Will I die before I'm done?

Making a thousand cranes, one by one?

My last dream did not come true

World peace did not come to view

People kill and wars resume

Soon the world will fill with doom

But in the Peace Park, here I stand

Hope in heart and crane in hand

Reminding you that war is cruel

Don't start war and be a fool

There's nothing good; you earn none

All you do is lose a ton

So do me a favor, just this one

Change it so it's never begun

One thousand cranes, that is all

Then I'll stand up proud and tall

For once they're made my dream comes true

To spread the peace one never knew

-Florence

(Based on the story "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes")

Wax Statues

At the Peace Museum in Hiroshima, we saw many artifacts from the bombing of  Hiroshima. We saw keloids, these really gross growths that grew because of radiation and burns, and we saw disembodied thumbs and nails, deformed models of hands, etc. We also saw stopped watches, molten bottles, and walls with shadows of people on them. But I thought that the grossest thing that we saw there were the wax statues of people during the bombing, whose skin was peeling off. This sight made me sick to my stomach, but also made me more aware of how horrifying the atomic bomb was. I really couldn't believe that people's skin melted off of them and hung off like baggy clothing. There were other things, like Shin's tricycle, which made me sad.

-Mary

Bell of Peace

Masahiko Katori, a master bell-maker, created the bell of peace. It was first struck on September 20, 1946. Engraved upon the bell is a world map with no boundaries. Every time the bell is rung, it expresses the desire for a peaceful, united world. It is approximately one meter in length and weights 1,200 kg. Its hammer is made from a ninety- year old pine tree. The structure around it is shape of a dome, which symbolizes the universe. A pond two meters wide and eight centimeters deep in turn surrounds this. Upon this, a yellow flowering lotus is planted.

-Yuhki

A Different Feeling

We've read about Shin's tricycle and now we were able to see the real ruins of it. It was very old, rusty and battered and looking as if it would crumble any moment. In fact, I was even surprised it was still standing.

A I stood there, gazing at what used to be one young boy's treasure, I felt a rush of sorrow pass through my heart. The tricycle was there in front of me, telling me what it's been through, telling the story of its owner's past.

But you see, when you're in a classroom, you can't feel the sadness and you don't have as many emotions as when you actually see a whole museum full of proof. I felt a lot of pity and sadness toward those who were injured and killed. There were a lot of clothes and a lot of pictures on the walls. Each and every on one of them were filled with a history, a dark history. I wish it never happened. I'm sure many wish the same.

When you're in the classroom, all you know is from books and the Internet and those kinds of sources. Many times you don't know if it's all true or not. I felt different here. I was sure and disappointed that I was sure. (In other words, I was saddened at the fact that everything here was true and real) I don't want to believe it, but by coming to this Peace Museum, there's nothing else you can do besides believe it.

-Florence

Ground Zero

On our exciting trip to Hiroshima, I saw many amazing and thought- provoking sights. Strolling thought the tranquil Peace Park brought odd thoughts to my curious mind.

We are Here.

The atomic bomb that changed the world incinerated thousands of lives exactly where I stand. A 13- year- old girl may have stood here 57 years ago without a thought in her mind except for a feeling of peace and security that hadn't been felt for ages.

On that beautiful August day.

Could I have been thinking those things just randomly?

Or was it because we are at Ground Zero?

-Mary

Resenting War

What have we human beings come to? For centuries we have merely fought, and killed a number of people. For what reason, we ask? Only the provoker knows completely, fooled by the dreamlike propaganda, needlessly killing people. People may ponder frequently- Will this world ever be left in peace?

-Yuhki

Regretful

"God, what have we done?"

Those were the first words that were heard inside the Enola Gay after the Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima; a quote of utmost regret and guilt. At first, the pilots who were supposed to be jotting down the observations from above of the first nuclear bomb in the world, were dumbstruck and didn't do anything but gape at the explosion. Yes, what have they done? It can't be described in a few words. Not even one man could explain all the damage that was done after one bomb. They have ruined everything:  life, shelter, nature... and even things that can't be seen.

            Maybe it took them some time, but I am sure that there was at least one moment when the crews of the Enola Gay was very regretful of what they were sent to do, what their country that they served for had done.

-Florence

"PEACE"

The people cry,

although it seems

more like a sigh

when compared to the wills of terrorists

and generals alike

Sekai no heiwa

is it so hard to obtain?

that people are just against it

is a really rotten shame

For I believe that the world would be a better place

for everyone

if there was world peace

If we could change our ways

and make not- so- violent movies and books

and music and plays

how would the world look now?

-Mary

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Photographs by ASIJ Faculty