The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Course

Topics 2010

Hiroshima Field Trip 2010, Central Connecticut State University

Twelve students from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), USA, visited Hiroshima as part of a field trip from Thursday, June 3 to Sunday, June 6. This is the fourth trip to Hiroshima by CCSU students. The students were accomapanied by Professors Shizuko Tomoda and Gustavo Mejia.

This field trip is a part of the Study Abroad program offered by CCSU, through which the participants can learn about old and new Japanese culture and peace issues during visits to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto and Tokyo. The students learned much about the reality of the atomic bombings.

Their activities included visits to peace related facilities and buildings exposed to the A-bomb, listening to the testimonies of A-bomb survivors Mr. Keijiro Matsushima and Ms. Sadae Kasaoka, and a lecture by Professor Tanaka at the Hiroshima Peace Institute.

This year more opportunities for meeting with students were provided during the Hiroshima program. On June 4, CCSU students visited Funairi Senior High School, alma mater of Professor Tomoda, met with 41 first year students in the International Communication Course and after class, talked with drama club members. On June 5, CCSU students had a discussion with Hiroshima students from several universities including Hiroshima City University, Hiroshima University of Economics and others. International students from Germany and Kazakhstan also joined the discussion. The themes of the discussion included how to remember and pass on the A-bomb experience of Hiroshima to future generations in the context of the comprehensive history of World War II, including such incidents as the Japanese invasion into Asia and the Pearl Harbor attack. They enjoyed taking with students of the same age, learned different view points and achieved mutually fruitful exchange.