Cultural News Editor Shige Higashi will interview Dr. Akiko Mikamo, original writer of new documentary film about Hiroshima atomic bombing at a virtual meeting via Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:00pm.
To participate in a virtual meeting with Dr. Mikamo, register your name at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlcO6qqDIvHtLf4vaQpS7ny1UQlzMvntHY
San Diego-based clinical psychologist, Dr. Akiko Mikamo, grew up in Hiroshima listening to her father, Shinji Mikamo, tell stories of his and his father, Fukuichi’s post atomic-bombing journey like bedtime stories.
It was her mission to tell their story, not as victims, but their day to day human experience to survive and what can be gained from these unfortunate circumstances.
Dr. Mikamo published “8:15 – A True Story of Survival and Forgiveness from Hiroshima” (2019), formerly as “Rising from the Ashes” (2013), to spread the message of resiliency and forgiveness for betterment of humanity. Very few detailed accounts of Hiroshima survivor have been presented in this format in English before.
Weaving audio and video recordings from interviews Akiko Mikamo conducted with her father Shinji Mikamo, archival images of the aftermath of the first use of atomic weapons against humanity, as well as reenactments spoken in Hiroshima dialect, new film “8:15” (2020) is woven together in an innovative documentary format of the bombing of Hiroshima.
In August 2010, with Dr. Mike Inoue, then Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego, Mr. Ikunosuke “Mike” Kawamura, former Kyocera executive, Dr. Mikamo started the San Diego – Worldwide Initiative to Safeguard Humanity or San Diego-WISH to host the 65th anniversary memorial service for victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Every year since then, San Diego-WISH is hosting International Peace and Humanity Day, 4:00pm PDT, Aug. 5, at the Yokohama Friendship Bell on Shelter Island in San Diego, and a ceremonial floating of paper lanterns in a silent prayer for world peace at the Coronado City Council Chambers and Community Pool to coincide with Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days.
In 2014, Dr. Mikamo received the Award for Exceptional Services for World Peace and Humanity from the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation at the House of Lords in London.
