I am from Hiroshima.

My home town is in Hiroshima-ken (Hiroshima prefecture).  So during compulspory education, we had to attend school every year in August 6th, i.e., Hiroshima's Genbaku memorial day.  When I was a child, I was not fond of this and always hated to go to school in the middle of summer vacation.  Even a few students were absent that day!  The exact time is 8:15AM, and we all watched live TV broadcast, and we prayed in silence for one minute.  Now president George Bush did not come this summer I guess, though when I was a child, then American presidents came to show condolences.

After I grew up, I went to London to study a year.  And almost for the first time noticed how people regard about Hiroshima issue.  One Iranian student asked me, "So if you are from Hiroshima, are you healthy or you still have some gene problem?" this is most typical (or honest, I should say) comments I came across. sometimes with smile, or with doubtness on their faces.

Also one needlessly tender (I write this in negative sense) english student told me, that "People in Japan are still afraid of being married with from-Hiroshima people. You know, they don't want any health problem for their children or grand-children."  Thank you very much! I am still not sure whether this is really true or not.   But outside Japan, it would be more apparent that they are thinking that way. 

Now I live in Finland, I rarely say that my home area is Hiroshima-ken because it will lead certain small talks that how it is like.  Also Japan is too far away from here, they are not aware of anything what happened as well as Japanese people do not know about what happened in Finland, what Russia have done to them and all kinds of things.  One girl asked me, "Maybe it is because of that Atmic bomb effect, you look so young!" she is quite nice young girl, saying this without no intention, I am sure. But I could not sleep on that night.   Someday, I want to do something to let people know a little bit more about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.   Even though it is more than 55 years old history.  

If you have chance to visit Chugoku-area(Chugoku chihou incl. Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi) please go for a look in Genbaku siryoukan (Atmic bomb museum) Our American friend said it is quite neutral and quite well arranged.  I visited there last year with my husband, and I could not stop shedding tears.  It was quite shocking, and somehow the things shown there seem to have more power than 20 years ago.   It is wirthwhile to know, I can say this. (Of course, it is up to you to go or not to go!) 

Thanks for reading my thoughts!