Passing the Torch of Peace

Ari Beser's grandfather served on the planes that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Harada Kosuzu's grandfather survived both. Now they are fighting for a world without nuclear weapons.

The key to achieving peace is feeling the pain of others. It's an idea Hayashida Mitsuhiro picked up from hibakusha in his native Nagasaki, and one he tries to teach young visitors to his city.

A renowned German playwright finds inspiration in a piano that survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing and its owner, who died after the blast at the age of 19, to create a piece warning against war's impact on the young. For more on this story: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3944/

A Hiroshima teen and an 83-year-old atomic bomb survivor try to depict visually what one mother endured immediately after the blast - her agony and sacrifice, as well as her love and devotion to her family - so that her tragic story is not repeated.

A-bomb survivor trees are treasured in Hiroshima. One cherry tree in a schoolyard has forged a bond with a former student, bringing her hope after the bombing and enduring joy. See more: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/5001460/

A US rapper, who discovers the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is moved to meet hibakusha and join anti-nuclear groups. He sees parallels between their discrimination and that of African Americans.

A story told through virtual reality takes up the horrific experience of Kodama Mitsuo who was 12 when the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The project aims to keep hibakusha's testimonies alive. View entire VR story: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/5001475/

Nakayama Kokoro, who has been studying nuclear issues since junior high school in Nagasaki, uses Minecraft with kids to preserve the memory of the atomic bombings, and promote a nuclear-free world.