The Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Peace Study Course

広島・長崎講座

I hope that you are still inspired to talk about the atomic-bomb and its legacies. I am also assuming that you are a bit tired of historical approaches to our topic. Well, then, let’s suppose that you are a writer-to-be (novelist, poet, film-maker, story-teller, journalist, video game designer, letter writer, etc.) who wishes to write about (or use the images of) the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and its legacies. The topic could be nuclear weapons in general. You can choose your audience: your parents, lovers, friends, children, the whole world, the hibakusha, etc.

What is the ultimate purpose of talking (writing) about the atomic-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for you? Don’t simply state the usual answers: “so that it won’t happen again,” etc. Even though your answer may come back to the standard answer, try using your own words, imagination, thought, experience, to illustrate your points. Dig deep within your self.

How do you justify that you, a non-hibakusha, are writing about the events you did not experience? How do you think the hibakusha would react to your “writing”? How do you justify your “writing” to someone like Paul Fussell, who would laugh at you because you are so young and inexperienced as you try to talk about their experience?

What genre of expression do you choose? Explain why you chose a certain genre (or style) by referring to some works on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Cite some passages and explain why they are effective in achieving a certain end.

Write, also, at least a paragraph (or a poem) from your “writing” on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It could be a preface to your “book,” or a detailed description of your “video game,” or of your “animation film,” etc. Alternatively, you may want to incorporate your answers to the above questions into your original “writing.” Be creative.