2010 / Congressionally chartered nuclear museum in New Mexico to host atomic bomb survivor from Hiroshima, May 27
Keiko Murakaki, Atomic bomb survivor in Hiroshima
Hiroshima Calling
Thursday, May 27, 2010, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, New Mexico is the nation’s only congressionally chartered museum in its field and an intriguing place to learn the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Originally known as the National Atomic Museum, it was established in 1969 on Kirtland Air Force Base before moving to Old Town at 601 Eubank Blvd. SE in Albuquerque. The museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate member.
“Hiroshima Calling” brings survivor to tell her story
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
News from National Museum of Nuclear Science webpage: www.NuclearMuseum.org
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History will host Hiroshima Calling, a cultural exchange featuring Hiroshima bombing survivor and peace activist Keiko Murakami from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2010. Performances that evening will also be given by Derrick Suwaima Davis, Hopi 2010 Hoop Dance World Champion, and Ken Koshio, Director and Producer of Hiroshima Calling and Japanese folk artist.
Murakami will speak about her real life experience in Hiroshima during the atomic bombing and suggest ways to create a peaceful society. She will speak among a collection of posters providing information and images on the after effects of the atomic bomb.
On August 6, 1945, an eight-year-old Murakami survived the atomic bomb just 1.7 kilometers from ground zero. After surviving the blast, this young girl was faced with surviving life after devastation. In an effort to expand her message of peace, hoping that no one else will suffer as she did, Murakami has written essays, books and children’s literature focusing on the future, looking towards a peaceful world without nuclear wars.
“Hiroshima Calling will help us remember world history, including stories of loss and devastation across cultures,” said Koshio. “It reminds us to have hope and to live with our neighbors in a peaceful way, and in a peaceful society.”
In order to recognize the importance of art and culture and its influence on lives and history, Koshio will open the event with inspirational Japanese Taiko music and Suwaima will close with a traditional Native American hoop dance.
Diversity and cultural exchange are shown prominently within the interactions of traditional Japanese taiko music and the Hopi hoop dances which originated from the Hopi reservation in Northern Arizona. Anita Lee Gallegos, the New Mexico liaison for Hiroshima Calling and owner and head instructor of Bushido Kenkyukai, will be providing decorations for the event.
The Museum will charge its usual admission prices for the event. For more information about the Hiroshima Calling event, please contact Jennifer Hayden at (505) 245-2137, extension 114, or Anita Gallegos at (505) 294-6993.
Arizona’s musicians and cultural exchange group forming “Hiroshima Calling” to invite atomic bomb survivors from Japan
Source: Hiroshima Calling website: www.hiroshimacalling.org
Hiroshima Calling has invited Keiko Murakami, survivor of the Hiroshima bombing and peace activist from Hiroshima, Japan, to present peace education lectures in conjunction with performances by Ken Koshio, Director/Producer of Hiroshima Calling.
This current tour will be presented in the Southwest. It is sponsored by WYEVAA (World Youth Visit Exchange Association of Arizona).
Keiko Murakami – Survivor of the Hiroshima bombing and peace activist from Hiroshima. Keiko is coming to New York before Arizona and New Mexico as speaker for Hibakusha Stories in New York.
Keiko Murakaki, Atomic bomb survivor in Hiroshima
Keiko Murakami Biography:
* 1937, born in Hiroshima
* 1945, August 6th, evacuates and survives the Atomic Bomb just 1.7 km from Ground Zero. Symptoms of radiation poisoning start 2 months later and health stabilizes approximately half a year later.
*1981, begins writing essays, books and children’s literature focusing on war evasion, and peace.
* 1994, begins speaking out about her personal experiences of the bombing.
* 1998, goes on her first peace pilgrimage to Myanmar. Sent by World Friendship Center on a peace pilgrimage to 5 northern states in the US. Meets Keiko Holmes, president of AGAPE (an organization that helps heal the 300 families of British POWs in the Far East – http:// www.agape-reconciliation.org).
*1999, visits England at Keiko Holmes’ invitation to meet the AGAPE families. She then started a branch of AGAPE in Hiroshima.
*2001, August 6th, presents a collaborative choir piece, ‘Sekai no inochi = Hiroshima no Kokoro (Life in the world = the Heart of Hiroshima)’, at the opening ceremony of the International Symposium of Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Hiroshima, and has been the opening song every year since then.
*2002, May: Keiko and 21 members of Civilians of Hiroshima and Nagasaki visit 9-11 Ground Zero in New York City.
* 2004: A member of NGO “HIROSHIMA SPEAKS OUT” – an organization launched in hopes of sharing the Hiroshima experience with the world. This involves a vigorous process of digging out buried data and creating website publications and CD compilations.
* 2006 March: Travels the world with marimba player, Keiko Kotoku, who wrote the song “Gaku” that tells how important it is to learn from the experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, through music and Keiko Murakami’s story telling.
*2008 May, at Colgate University, New York, coordinated Hiroshima/Nagasaki studies.
* 1998 to present, goes on peace pilgrimages to Myanmar, North American, England, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Czech, Patagonia, Argentina and Buenos Aires. She has lectured at the United Nations in Sweden, and presented at many universities around the world. Lectures at schools, meetings and anti-war movement organizations in Japan as well as counseling educators regarding peace studies for the next generation. She has also been writing essays for the Joyo Newspapers in Japan since 2005. She has coached actors on Hiroshima dialect.
