Never give up-Tsuboi-ism inherited to the future August 5, 12:14

August 6th this year will be the first day since the death of the “symbol” of the movement to abolish nuclear weapons in Hiroshima.

Nao Tsuboi, a former representative of Japan Hidankyo, passed away last October at the age of 96.

As an educator and head of an organization for atomic bomb survivors, Mr. Tsuboi has devoted his life to peace education and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

(Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter Shingo Ono)

An indomitable spirit for the movement to abolish nuclear weapons

Hiroshima Peace Park.

It was six years ago that this world-famous place, home to the Atomic Bomb Cenotaph and the Atomic Bomb Dome, attracted a great deal of attention.

On May 27, 2016, President Obama (at that time) of the United States visited.

"As an A-bomb survivor, that (the dropping of the atomic bomb) was one of the mistakes of mankind. We must overcome it and go to the future..."

As one of the representatives of the A-bomb survivors, he had a historic meeting with the president. It was Mr. Tadashi Tsuboi.

He told the sitting president, who was visiting Hiroshima for the first time, his true feelings.

Tsuboi survived the atomic bombing 1.2 kilometers from the hypocenter and remained unconscious for 40 days.

After the war, he continued to talk about the terror of the atomic bomb as a junior high school teacher, and after his retirement he devoted himself to the activities of the atomic bomb survivors' group.

His favorite phrase is "never give up".

It was the perfect word to describe Mr. Tsuboi, who has worked with an indomitable spirit to abolish nuclear weapons.

Tsuboi passed away last October at the age of 96.

The news of his death traveled with sorrow both at home and abroad.

However, Tsuboi's lifelong desire for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons has never faded.

“Keep in mind what you want to tell your children.”

Peace Park in mid-June, overflowing with students on a school excursion.

On that day six years ago, in front of the Atomic Bomb Cenotaph where Mr. Tsuboi conveyed his thoughts to President Obama, a man who was also Tsuboi's "disciple" was speaking to junior high school students.

"Isn't there a war around you? Isn't there a war in the classroom? 'This person and this person started fighting', 'This person is bullying this person'. What should we do?" You have to think that (war) isn't that far away."

The owner of the voice is Hisaharu Matsui (68).

A former junior high school teacher, he is now a guide for school trip students at Peace Park.

About 40 years ago, in 1976, Mr. Matsui was appointed as a new teacher at Midorimachi Junior High School (Minami Ward, Hiroshima City), where there was a high level of interest in peace and the atomic bombing.

Mr. Matsui is in charge of the mathematics department.

He doesn't have the knowledge of a social studies teacher, nor did he study peace education at university.

A young Matsui teacher confided his troubles to Mr. Tsuboi, who worked at the same junior high school as a vice principal.

Mr. Matsui

: "I haven't taken a class on peace studies at university either. I'm in charge of mathematics, and I

'm

not confident."

The subject is irrelevant. All you have to do is have a clear idea of ​​what you want to convey to the children.”

Mr. Matsui looks back on how that encounter shaped his life as a teacher.

Mr. Hisaharu Matsui

“In the staff room, vice-principal Tsuboi is quite late, and mischievous children see the lights and enter. But vice-principal Tsuboi said, “Well, you should go up.”When vice-principal Tsuboi asked, “What are you going to do after graduating?”(the students) spoke frankly.Because they trust vice-principal Tsuboi. I thought that you would open your heart to that extent.I learned how to interact with children through my life itself.”

Attitude towards peace learning

Mr. Matsui, who was taught by a senior educator about the importance of "embracing everyone, like love for humanity," has inherited that teaching in his approach to peace studies.

It is said that Mr. Tsuboi used to say this on a daily basis.

Deputy Principal Tsuboi

: Talking about the atomic bomb and war is not the only way to study peace.

At school, fighting and bullying...

Mr. Matsui, who was just starting out as a teacher, learned that facing up to a possible "war" would ultimately lead to greater peace.

Today, as a peace park guide, she continues to pass on the lessons she learned from Mr. Tsuboi to children who have a bright future.

What is the thought behind the “blank school register”?

Mr. Tsuboi's hopes for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons have been left behind as a form.

Peace class held at Midorimachi Junior High School in early July.

A textbook was read aloud.

“When he was trapped under a house and couldn’t help himself, he was screaming, ‘Help me! Help me!’…”

Every year, before August 6th, Midorimachi Junior High School conducts peace study, and the teaching material is the "blank school register".

This booklet, published in 1980, summarizes the testimonies of the bereaved families of the children of the former national school who died young in the atomic bombing.

The cover of the booklet is light blue because the A-bomb survivors wanted water.

Turning the page, the tragedy that struck the children of Hiroshima 77 years ago is vividly depicted.

From "Empty School Register"

``I was screaming over and over again in my sickbed, ``Give me water, give me water...''''

``I don't know how I died after the bomb

However,

even the remains have not been found. ”

Anger, hatred, sadness...

Each testimony contains a mixture of various feelings about the atomic bombing that cannot be expressed in words.

The impetus for publication was a list.

Mr. Tsuboi, the vice-principal, found a list of children who died in the atomic bombing on the school grounds, but when he opened it, most of the columns except for the names were blank.

I want to leave a living testimony to each and every one of them...

With Mr. Tsuboi's thoughts as the starting point, teachers and students began working together to search for the bereaved families and walk around the area to obtain testimonies.

In other words, it is peace learning that “earns with your feet.”

Mr. Matsui, who was involved in editing the "blank school register" as a fledgling teacher, speaks for Mr. Tsuboi as follows.

Mr. Hisaharu Matsui

``After all, Dr. Tsuboi himself was an A-bomb survivor. I think that the teacher must have been strong, too."

"As a young teacher, I happened to belong to the student council, so I think it was a coincidence that I was involved in the editing, but this meeting was a big deal. I think now."

40 years after its publication.

Even now, Midorimachi Junior High School continues to use the book as a valuable teaching material for peace studies, such as holding readings of the "Blank School Register" every summer in which all students participate.

The thoughts contained in the "blank school register" will not change over time.

Katsuhiro Shimizu, Principal of Hiroshima Municipal Midorimachi Junior High School

: “I believe that Mr. Tsuboi and other teachers and students at the time had a strong desire to pass on their experiences of the atomic bombing to future generations. I feel a sense of energy when I made an appointment with someone to hear their story, and I believe that energy is the reason why this effort to pray for peace continues uninterrupted even now. increase"

How will the next generation take it?

Tsuboi's tangible and intangible messages for peace education and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

I wonder how the next generation will perceive it.

<Junior high school students listening to Mr. Matsui's guide at Peace Park>

Male student on a school excursion:

“I think it is important for each and every one of us to understand each other.

Female student on a school excursion:

"I thought that if we stop being involved in wars from small things, we might end up fighting between nations."

<A first-year student at Midorimachi Junior High School listening to the reading of "Blank School Register">

A female student at Midorimachi Junior High School:

“They worked so hard to make this, so I read it thoroughly and wanted to know more about the atomic bombing.”

A male student at Midorimachi Junior High School:

“I thought that there must be a lot of people who have had painful experiences.

"Never give up"

Mr. Tsuboi's thoughts that he spent his life working on will never give up and will be inherited in the future.

Hisaharu Matsui

: I've been consciously trying to use 'Never Give Up' on various occasions. If you give up, it's all over.

Mr. Hisaharu Matsui

``I think it's quite difficult to imitate such a great teacher, but I can do it in my own way. I don't think it's as good as it is, but I have a feeling that I'd like to be of some help, even if it's just 1/100."

Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter

Shingo Ono After working in

the

sports news department, he joined the Hiroshima Station in February this year

.