MoBay to hear atomic bomb testimonies during ‘Peace Boat’ voyage
Published:Friday | July 4, 2025 | 12:11 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Three survivors of the August 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States will be among the 1,700 passengers, who will arrive at the Montego Freeport Cruise Ship Port on Saturday, on the Peace Boat’s 120th Global Voyage.
The visit, part of a global trek spanning 21 ports in 19 countries, is being hailed as a rare opportunity for Jamaican youth to engage with living history.
The survivors, known in Japan as Hibakusha, will share their personal testimonies during a special lecture at The University of the West Indies, Mona – Western Jamaica Campus. The event, hosted in collaboration with Women of Western Jamaica (WOWJa), will bring together 50 university students from across western Jamaica for an intimate encounter with history.
Among the survivors is 84-year-old Ito Masao, who was just four years old when he was exposed to the Hiroshima bombing while riding his bicycle in front of his home, a mere 3.5 kilometres from the blast’s hypocentre.
Joining Ito Masao are 81-year-old Kuramori Terumi, who survived the Nagasaki bombing while sheltering with her mother and siblings behind their home, and 82-year-old Watanabe Junko, who was only two when she endured the black rain that followed the Hiroshima explosion. Their visit comes one month ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, lending deeper significance to what organisers describe as “a call for global peace and nuclear disarmament”.
“The presence of these brave Hibakusha brings history to life,” said Nerissa Persaud, communications chair of WOWJa. “Their stories are more than reflections of a painful past. They are urgent appeals for a peaceful and nuclear-free future.”
Japan’s ambassador to Jamaica, Yasuhiro Atsumi, and Jamaica’s Ambassador to Japan, Shorna-Kay Richards, will deliver opening remarks at Saturday’s event, reinforcing the diplomatic and cultural ties between both nations.
While in port, the Peace Boat passengers will also open the ship to a limited tour of its 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition. The award was presented to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation that has worked closely with Peace Boat on the Hibakusha Project.
Since 2008, more than 170 atomic bomb survivors have travelled the world on Peace Boat missions, sharing their stories and advocating for peace. Montego Bay’s inclusion in this historic voyage underscores Jamaica’s growing role in global peace-building conversations.
“As Jamaica continues to embrace diplomacy, the arrival of Peace Boat is a timely and symbolic gesture,” said Persaud. “It reminds us that the fight for peace is not just international. It’s also personal and generational.”
Peace Boat, a Japan-based non-governmental organisation, has been sailing for peace, sustainability, and human rights since 1983. Voyage 120 further deepens Jamaica’s relationship with Japan while inspiring the next generation of peace advocates.