Although I’ve never actually been to Hiroshima (yet), I feel as though I have, through all my reading and research for my play THE MISTAKE.  But yesterday I was fortunate enough to get to meet two hibakusha – survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 – to meet them here in London at an event organised by CND.  They were here with the Japan Peace Boat, travelling the world to share their testimonies.

The lady pictured with me is Toshiko Tanaka, a quietly inspiring woman, who was injured in the blast in Hiroshima, but survived, and despite various bomb-related illnesses over the years, is still here to tell her story.

The other survivor we heard from was Tadayoshi Ogawa, an 80-year-old gentlemen who was a baby when the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and again, despite various health issues is still here.

I later learnt that in recent years, Toshiko, who still lives in Hiroshima, has welcomed into her home the grandson of President Truman (the man who ordered the bombs to be dropped) and the grandson of one of the crew of the Enola Gay¸the B-29 bomber that delivered the bomb.  Such an inspiring woman – she is peace, forgiveness and reconciliation embodied.  May she live for many more years to tell her story.  Next year, when I very much hope to take THE MISTAKE to the USA and to Japan, I hope to visit her in her home in Hiroshima…