“The site of the bombing—Matsuyama-machi—is now a pristine park. Back then, however, it was a bustling town where many people lived and worked. A single atomic bomb detonated 500m above this town, destroying everything underneath it. Homes and families disappeared in an instant.

Humans cause war. Thus, only humans can prevent it.

I long for a peaceful society where everyone can live with dignity, and die with dignity.

Peace is not something that we passively wait for. Peace is something that we must seek out and cultivate.

Dear reader—please make Nagasaki the last atomic bomb site.

Yagi Michiko”

“I have an aversion to satsuma potatoes. Whenever I see them, I think of my now deceased mother.

After the atomic bomb attack, my mother singlehandedly raised me and my four siblings while teaching full-time at a local high school. We waited everyday for her to return from work and went ‘shopping’ – that is, visiting dilapidated farms and asking for a share of their crop in exchange for my mother’s cherished kimonos. We walked around half-starved for hours and hours, getting turned away from this farmer and that. One day, we found a farm with loads of satsuma potatoes out front. As always, my mother carried a bundle of her beautiful kimonos, folded neatly in a furoshiki wrapping cloth. She presented them to the farmer.

‘I’m sorry, but I have no crops to give away. I have many mouths to feed as well.’

My mother quietly pulled the furoshiki over her kimonos and bowed deeply. ‘Thank you for your time. I will return at a later date.’ My mother always maintained her eloquence and calm disposition.

I was furious. ‘But they had so many, mama!’ My mother was silent. I peered up and saw a look of indescribable sorrow and defeat on her face – a look that I will never forget.”