ANT-Hiroshima

ANT-Hiroshima is engaged in a number of activities, both domestic and international.

International Peace Activities

Donating “Sadako” Books to the World

ANT-Hiroshima has produced two children’s books (as well as a CD of these books narrated by Marie Tsuruda) about the life of Sadako Sasaki, a girl from Hiroshima who died of leukemia, an aftereffect of radiation from the atomic bomb. The courage and hope of this young Japanese girl are an inspiration to children all over the world.

“Sadako’s Prayer”

In cooperation with Fauzia Minallah, a Pakistani artist, ANT-Hiroshima has published five language versions of this picture book, in English, Japanese, Urdu, Dari and Pashtun. The Dari and Pashtun books are donated to children in Afghanistan.

“Paper Crane Journey“

ANT-Hiroshima has translated the original Japanese version of this book into English, Dari, Nepali, Bengali, French, Spanish, German, Hungarian, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Tajiki and Tagalog. To date, the book has reached children in over 50 nations.

Spreading Seeds and Saplings of A-Bombed Trees

ANT-Hiroshima engaged in efforts to help spread seeds and saplings from A-bombed trees in Hiroshima to places throughout Japan and the world. The growth of new generations of A-bombed trees serves to promote Hiroshima’s spirit of peace to people everywhere.

Producing DVDs of A-Bomb Survivors and Sufferers of War

ANT-Hiroshima is producing a series of DVDs which feature the life stories of A-bomb survivors and sufferers of war.

Producing Films about Hiroshima and Nagasaki

ANT-Hiroshima has served as consulting producer for two important documentaries by Steven Okazaki, an Academy Award-winning film director from the United States.
“White Light/Black Rain,” an 86-minute feature documentary film, tells the story of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and was broadcast nationwide in the United States on HBO on August 6, 2007. “White Light/Black Rain” won an Emmy Award.

A couple of years before that, ANT-Hiroshima helped Steven Okazaki produce “The Mushroom Club,”a film about A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima. The 30-minute documentary film was nominated for an Academy Award in the “best short documentary” category of 2005. “The Mushroom Club” was nominated for an Academy Award.

Supporting an International Effort for Nuclear Weapons Abolition by 2020

ANT-Hiroshima is a strong supporter of the “2020 Vision Campaign,” an international effort championed by Mayors for Peace for the elimination of nuclear weapons by the year 2020.

International Cooperation Activities

Sponsoring an Elementary School in Kashmir

ANT-Hiroshima is providing financial support for the operating costs of Sadako Primary School, a school constructed by the Sadako Foundation, a Pakistani NGO, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan in 2005. Many of the 120 children currently attending the school, at no cost, were orphaned or became refugees as a result of the earthquake or the conflict occurring in that region.

Construction a New Health Care Facility in Pakistan

ANT-Hiroshima, in cooperation with HOPE’87-Pakistan, has constructed a new health care facility in the Shamshatoo District, located in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, for Afghan refugees and local Pakistanis. The facility is now being operated by the ABASEEN Foundation, a local NGO in Pakistan.

Providing Support for Victims of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake

Ant-Hiroshima is coordinating relief efforts from Hiroshima to provide ongoing support to meet the physical and psychological needs of those affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in eastern Japan.

This support includes assistance to displaced families and individuals who have left the area and resettled in Hiroshima.

Organizing Art Party, a Benefit Art Exhibition

ANT-Hiroshima organizes Art Party, a benefit art exhibition that has been held annually in Hiroshima since 2003. Each December, artwork created by children in need from countries around the world — about 300 pictures from 15 countries — is displayed and sold at a large gallery and 100% of the proceeds are returned to the participating children’s groups as a donation.

Educational Activities

Facilitating Scholarships for Education

ANT-Hiroshima is involved in facilitating scholarships between financial supporters and student-recipients. Candidates for ANT scholarships show exceptional promise in making use of their intended studies to bring benefit to the world in some way.

Organizing Peace Education and Culture Activities

ANT-Hiroshima organizes a variety of activities to promote peace education and peace culture, such as: arranging lectures, workshops, film screenings, concerts, and art exhibitions with peace-related themes; coordinating exchange projects for students; and supporting groups of young people involved in their own peace activities.

Arranging Internships and Volunteer Experiences

ANT-Hiroshima is involved in arranging internships and volunteer experiences, both at the ANT-Hiroshima office and at other locations in Hiroshima and internationally.

Providing Professional Services in Educational Settings

The executive director of ANT-Hiroshima, Tomoko Watanabe, is frequently engaged in educational activities as a lecturer in schools, a workshop facilitator for groups, and a media commentator.

Hosting International Speakers and Performers

ANT-Hiroshima regularly hosts visiting speakers and performers from abroad.