Tomoko Watanabe, Part 3

Take steps for peace

Tomoko Watanabe talks about grassroots activities with trainees visiting Hiroshima from a variety of Asian nations, invited by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (Photo taken on February 25, 2011)

Tomoko Watanabe

Born in the city of Hiroshima in 1953. While serving as the managing director of a law office, she has been involved in activities concerned with international understanding and peace education for citizens and children in Hiroshima and trainees from overseas. In 1989 she founded the non-profit organization ANT-Hiroshima and assumed the role of executive director. She provides support to those working for peace and began offering assistance to Afghan refugees in 2002 and aid for reconstruction in the earthquake-damaged Kashmir region of Pakistan in 2005. She lives in the city of Hiroshima and is a member of the city's board of education.

The number of survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, as well as those who witnessed the process of reconstructing the city after the war, are declining steadily as the years pass. At the same time, however, a variety of efforts intended to hand down Hiroshima's experience have grown.

In my mind, Hiroshima has a five-part mission: 1) Deliver the reality of the A-bomb damage to people in Japan and overseas, 2) Take action to advance the goal of nuclear abolition, 3) Engage in peace-building activities in places of need, 4) Spread peace culture and peace education, and 5) Educate people to act for peace, no matter the place, no matter the field

In the world today, where nations greatly influence one another, the aims of Hiroshima's mission can only be achieved with the people of the world working together. In my case, I'm doing what I can, and doing my best each day, to help hand down Hiroshima's experience.

One person who gave me a lot of good advice was the late professor Seiichi Nakano (1905-1993), when I was writing my graduation thesis. He was a professor at Hiroshima University during the time of the city's reconstruction, and he opened his home to atomic bomb orphans. He organized a group called the "Ayumi group" and he stepped in to care for these children in place of their parents. With a warm heart, he considered how best the children could live, and he did everything he could for them.

The motto of the Ayumi group was "take baby steps together" and "peace is part of daily life." He cherished human relationships and was often heard to say, "Build a fortress of peace in your mind." Professor Nakano's words, and the way of life he and his wife lived, have strongly influenced the person I am today.

In order to find peace in our daily lives, we need to reflect on whether the state of our minds, our behavior, and our relationships with others are peaceful or not. And I feel strength in the words "take baby steps together," which encourage us to move forward with others by our side, even if our movement is very slow. In addition, when I pursue Hiroshima's mission, I mustn't forget the task of building that "fortress of peace" in my mind, the same aim that Professor Nakano held for the Ayumi group.

In November 2010, the 14th Dalai Lama attended The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. He told us that the 21st century is the century of citizens, where citizens can move the world.

I've met many young people who want to do something to learn more about the world today and help build a better world for tomorrow. I hope they will take steps to put their enthusiasm into action. By taking steps forward, the world around you can change. Don't be afraid of failure; you can learn a lot from failure.

If you continue your efforts, even if those efforts seem very small, they can help create a network with other people and projects and your achievements may grow larger. As individuals, our power is small, but we are not powerless.

I was born in Hiroshima, and I love this city, so I want to live my life pursuing Hiroshima's mission as my own.