Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Messages for Future Generations: Insights from the Process of Testifying to Their Lived Experiences for Peace

The Journal of Social Studies Education in Asia Volume 13 Page 107-124 published_at 2024-03-31
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Title ( eng )
Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Messages for Future Generations: Insights from the Process of Testifying to Their Lived Experiences for Peace
Creator
KATAYAMA Misaki
Source Title
The Journal of Social Studies Education in Asia
Volume 13
Start Page 107
End Page 124
Number of Pages 18
Journal Identifire
[PISSN] 24341797
[NCID] AA12857878
Abstract
This study aimed to systematically understand how Japanese atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) confront their experiences and construct peace messages. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Hibakusha aged 84–92 years who mainly testified to children from elementary to high school. In the interviews, participants were asked about their motivations, conflicts, and perspectives on peace. As a result of category analysis, a Modified Grounded Theory Approach, six Categories and 22 Concepts were generated and presented as conceptual diagrams. The results indicate that Hibakusha struggled with challenges, such as recalling traumatic events, societal discrimination, and internal conflict, with the psychological invasion of sharing their experiences. However, motivated by a sense of being understood by non-victims about their desire for peace and responsibility to prevent a similar tragedy and a growing sense of danger due to waning peace awareness, they were encouraged to share their experiences. The findings show that sharing tragic historical memories is a reciprocal process between the narrator and listener, with narrators allowing their memories to be interpreted and contextualized by others. This reveals that the environment and attitudes of listeners impact the feasibility and nature of the victims’ testimonies.
Keywords
Atomic bomb
Hibakusha
Historical testimony
Peace education
Hiroshima
Language
eng
Resource Type journal article
Publisher
The International Social Studies Assosiation
Date of Issued 2024-03-31
Rights
Copyright © 2024 the International Social Studies Association (ISSA) and Japanese Educational Research Association for the Social Studies (JERASS). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted, in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from JERASS and ISSA, to whom all requests to reproduce copyright material should be directed, in writing.
Publish Type Version of Record
Access Rights open access