Hawaii Delegation Experiences Hiroshima with a Focus on Peace
From August 1–9, 2025, Hiroshima Peace Scholars Chloe Tonda (Punahou School) and Mia Nishiguchi (Kalani High School), and Chaperone Mr. Todd Oshima, a music teacher from Moanalua High School, took part in a deeply educational and culturally immersive exchange program in Hiroshima, Japan. JASH Educational Programs Manager Cindy Oshima accompanied the group throughout the trip. During the nine-day program, they lived with host families, built friendships with students from various schools in Japan, and participated in a Peace Forum hosted by Hiroshima Jogakuin High School. They also had the rare opportunity to speak with hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors), attend the August 6 Peace Memorial Ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Park, meet with Hiroshima government officials, and gain firsthand insight into ongoing efforts to promote a global culture of peace.
Scholars presenting their senbazuru at the Children’s Peace Monument
The Hawaii delegation began their journey with a warm welcome and introduction at Hiroshima Jogakuin High School. Eleven Jogakuin students generously volunteered to guide the group on a tour of the Hiroshima Peace Park. The tour included significant landmarks such as the Genbaku Dome and Aioi Bridge. Along the route was the Children’s Peace Monument, where the group offered their senbazuru (1,000 origami paper cranes) as a symbol of hope and remembrance. They then visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where they gained a deeper understanding of the atomic bombing through powerful firsthand accounts, visuals, and historical artifacts. Chloe commented on visiting the museum, “The pictures show the reality and the drawings emphasized the emotional pain. It was sickening but informational. Also, it made me happy to see people from all over the world and young kids visiting the museum. It shows people care and it reassures me that people now know and understand.” In the afternoon, the group enjoyed visiting Orizuru Tower, as they folded orizuru peace cranes to contribute to the over 1 million cranes in the wall on the side of the tower. They all made a wish for peace before dropping their cranes.
(L-R) Jogakuin students giving a tour of the Peace Park; Dropping orizuru cranes at Orizuru Tower
On Sunday, August 3, the group spent quality time with their individual host families, generously arranged by Hiroshima Jogakuin High School. Chloe and her host family had a fun day singing at karaoke and going shopping. Mia had an eventful day traveling to Iwakuni, then attending a gathering with many relatives of her host family. Todd enjoyed observing his host father’s junior orchestra and opera rehearsals throughout the day.
On Monday, August 4, the group attended a powerful testimony by Mr. Seishi Morikawa, a Hibakusha Legacy Successor and second-generation atomic bomb survivor. These successors carry forward the voices of A-bomb survivors by sharing their experiences, conveying the harsh realities of the atomic bombing, and promoting a message of peace. Mr. Morikawa retold the story of hibakusha, Ms. Megumi Shinoda and his own father. The delegation engaged in a meaningful discussion about nuclear weapons and the importance of passing down hibakusha stories.
Hibakusha Testimony by Hikabusha Legacy Successor Mr. Seishi Morikawa
On Tuesday, August 5, the scholars participated in the Peace Forum at Hiroshima Jogakuin High School, centered around the theme “Youth Action for the Future.” They delivered a joint presentation about daily life in Hawaii, shared individual research on their families’ wartime experiences, and led a short cultural performance that included audience participation. They presented alongside distinguished keynote speakers: Mr. Hideo Asano, Coordinator of the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and Ms. Shizuka Kuramitsu, Research Assistant at the Arms Control Association. The forum also featured interactive student workshops and the sharing of peace statements prepared by participants. Mia commented on the Peace Forum, “I think the peace forum was very insightful and taught me more about atomic bombs and what we can do with the money instead to solve other precedent social justice issues. Coming up with our solutions in small groups gave me better insight into what I can bring back to my school and the Board of Education as well.”
Top row: Peace Forum presentations by Hawaii delegation
Bottom row: Peace Forum breakout sessions
Wednesday, August 6 was a meaningful and eventful day for the group. They began by attending the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, held to commemorate the anniversary of the atomic bombing in 1945. This year marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ceremony draws thousands of attendees from around the world, including hibakusha, families of victims, dignitaries, and peace advocates. The powerful atmosphere left a deep and lasting impression on the scholars, reminding them of the importance of empathy, remembrance, and global unity.
Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6, 2025
After the ceremony, the group visited Noboricho Elementary School, where Sadako Sasaki, symbol of the Children’s Peace Monument, attended. There, they met Mr. Kikuo Okabe, a dedicated volunteer who oversees the school’s peace reference room. He shared stories and records collected over the years, highlighting the experiences of families in the surrounding neighborhood during and after the bombing.
Peace Reference Room at Noboricho Elementary School with Mr. Okabe
In the afternoon, the scholars joined an exchange meeting with students from Chigasaki City, a sister city of Honolulu. Through interactive activities such as self-introductions, a human bingo game, and discussions on peace, the students built new connections and explored shared hopes for the future. The day concluded with a meaningful Lantern Floating Ceremony at Motoyasu River, where participants released hand-painted lanterns carrying messages of peace and remembrance into the water. It was a reflective end to a memorable day.
(L-R) Exchange with Chigasaki City delegates; Lantern Floating at Motoyasu River
On Thursday, August 7, the group enjoyed a day trip to Miyajima. Joined by a host-sister and friend, they spent a fun and memorable day exploring the island, including a visit to Itsukushima Shrine and Miyajima Public Aquarium. The outing provided an opportunity to spend more time with their friends, while experiencing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the island.
(L-R) Itsukushima Shrine; Miyajima Public Aquarium
On Friday, August 8, the group began their morning with a guided tour of the A-bomb Trees and Hiroshima Castle grounds. Chloe commented on the tour, “I wish more people knew about the trees and the military bases in Hiroshima. There’s something inspiring and moving about the trees that were meant to die, yet survived.” Then, they paid a courtesy visit to Hiroshima Deputy Mayor Mikiharu Nakai, where the scholars gained deeper insight into the city’s ongoing peace initiatives. In the afternoon, the group met with Ms. Tomiko Kawano, a classmate of Sadako Sasaki, who shared personal reflections on how her past experiences shaped her commitment to peace. Mia commented on their meeting, “I learned a lot of valuable stories from Ms. Kawano. Her message about spreading peace and ensuring stories never get forgotten resonated with me.” That evening, the scholars attended Peace On Your Wings, a musical about the life of Sadako Sasaki, presented by Ohana Arts at JMS Aster Plaza. It was a moving and memorable experience to see local Hawaii students perform in Hiroshima.
Top row: A-bomb tree tour; Visit with Hiroshima Deputy Mayor Nakai
Bottom row: Meeting with Ms. Tomiko Kawano; Peace On Your Wings musical
Chloe reflected on the entire trip, “Seeing and experiencing everything from the other side, Japan side, has been enlightening. Learning and understanding other perspectives opened my mind further. This is an experience I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to use this new information to spread peace, even on a small scale.” Mia reflected, “I think my HPS experience will impact my future because now I have a different way of thinking about war and violence. Especially within the political realm, it's important to have a good perspective and way to go about processing life-altering events.”
JASH extends a sincere MAHALO to everyone who supported this year’s program. Special thanks go to Hiroshima Jogakuin High School, the City of Hiroshima, Ms. Nao Fukuoka, Ms. Momoka Narasaki, Ms. Mirei Tashiro, and the gracious host families in Hiroshima whose generosity made this experience truly unforgettable.
The Hiroshima Peace Scholarship (HPS) (est. 2009) was founded by Hiromi Peterson and Naomi Hirano-Omizo, retired Japanese language teachers of Punahou School, to encourage young peacebuilders and strengthen relationships between Hawaii and Hiroshima. The program is supported by the proceeds from their textbook series, Adventures in Japanese. JASH began managing HPS in 2021. To learn more about the Hiroshima Peace Scholarship, visit www.jashawaii.org/education/hps.
