…December 2017… …Nagasaki…
Just received the sad news that atomic bomb survivor Akira Fukahori passed away. He attended the From Above exhibition opening two days prior. Unfortunate and unexpected news. It was an honor to photograph him last year.
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..December 2017.. ..New York to Nagasaki..
Preparing prints for the From Above exhibition opening on December 9th at the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. There will be a question and answer session about the development of the project beginning at 11am. The exhibition features portraits of atomic bomb survivors from Nagasaki.
I will also be teaching photo workshops on December 9th and 10th concentrating on the use of photography and art to promote peace. Anyone who wants to attend the photo workshops has to sign up in advance to reserve a place. There is no admission fee. Anyone with a camera or cell phone camera can attend.
The project was exhibited in Nagasaki last year but there are plenty of new portraits that will be shown of hibkauhsa (atomic bomb survivors) I photographed during last year’s trip— with Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in Nagasaki, Nagasaki.
The exhibition is open from December 9th-16th.
A few From Above limited edition books, which features portraits of atomic bomb and firebombing survivors from WWII, will be released for the exhibition. They are only available at http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i&i2 or at the venue.
..November 2017..
My project From Above, featuring portraits of atomic bomb and fire bombing victims from WWII, will be exhibited as a part of the 2017 Nagasaki International Peace Film Forum. It will be taking place at the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims from December 9th-16th.
The opening is Saturday December 9th, which also includes a question and answer session about the development of the project.
I will also be teaching photo workshops on December 9th and 10th concentrating on the use of photography and art to promote peace. Anyone who wants to attend the photo workshops has to sign up in advance to reserve a place. There is no admission fee. Anyone with a camera or cell phone camera can attend.
The project was exhibited in Nagasaki last year but there are plenty of new portraits that will be shown of hibkauhsa (atomic bomb survivors) I photographed during last year’s trip— with Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in Nagasaki, Nagasaki.
If you’re in Japan please attend.
..November 2017..
Preparing a list of portraits for the upcoming From Above exhibition at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hal for Atomic Bomb Victims opening on December 9th.
..Nagasaki.. “There is nothing more cruel and tragic as war. There is nothing more precious and noble as peace.”
-Isao Yoshida, Nagasaki atomic bomb survivor
Once again sad news has arrived from Nagasaki, Mr. Isao Yoshida, an hibakusha (atomic bomb) survivor who I photographed in December has passed away. He was one of the youngest hibakusha I have photographed. For many years he participated in scheduled gatherings at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park to victims of the atomic bomb.
His quotation above shine with truth. These 18 powerful words are what I will always remember about Mr. Yoshida. It would be nice if we had more people in power who could comprehend. But I believe these 18 simple words are above their moral compasses.
..Tokyo..
The remaining From Above books being shipped from Japan. No more available after these are sold. From Above, is my limited edition book, featuring portraits and testimonials of atomic bomb survivors and fire bombing survivors from Dresden and Tokyo.
They can be purchase exclusively by clicking this link.
http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i&i2
..September 2017..
An article in SEIKATSU PRESS about the passing of atomic bomb survivor Sumiteru Taniguchi which features the portrait I took of him in 2008.
..August 2017.. ..Nagasaki..
Just got a message that Sumiteru Taniguchi has passed away.
Now I know why it’s been raining all day.
Almost 9 years to the day I photographed him.
“The war ended 64 years ago, but not for us. The victims have been suffering ever since and we don’t know it’s going to effect future generations.”
-Sumiteru Taniguchi, from my interview in September 2008
Mr. Sumiteru Taniguchi was the fourth atomic bomb bomb survivor (hibakusha) I photographed during my first trip to Nagasaki.
Taniguchi-san was the most distinguished and sophisticated person I have photographed. His demeanor was always honorable. His intelligent aura immediately filled the large board room we sat in.
Taniguchi-san’s story of survival was remarkable. His dedication to the Hibakusha cause and activism against nuclear weapons was unrelenting.
Taniguchi-san had the poise of a statesman. In Japan, Taniguchi-san was a major figure in the Hibakusha getting rights and compensation from the government. He was also vocal about his feelings toward other Hibakusha who failed to have their voices heard. He could not understand those who believed the government was doing enough for the Hibakusha.
I have a great deal of respect for Taniguchi-san’s opinion and courage. If it weren’t for his, and the efforts of other vocal Hibakusha, the government would be waiting for all the Hibakusha to pass away without memory. His strength to live is what made my experience unforgettable.
He was poised in front of the camera. You can see the his inner strength when you look at the eyes in his photos. Despite his fragile body, he was the strongest man ever to be in front of my camera.
Taniguichi-san was known as the Postman of Nagasaki. He was delivering the mail on the morning of August 9th, 1945. He started his route at 9AM. Air raid sirens went off a couple of times but no raids occurred.
At 10AM his bicycle tire punctured. He continued the route on foot. After finishing the route, he returned to the bicycle to fix the tire.
11AM he left Nishiura-Kami post office to deliver more mail. He heard planes in the distance. Moments later he was thrown off his bicycle while the ground shook.
“When I looked up, the house I just passed was destroyed. I saw a child blown away. Some small children who had been playing nearby had been blown away like dust.”
His bicycle was twisted, mail scattered on the ground. His first reaction was to pick up the letters. When he told this to me. It stuck in my memory.
He finds shelter 200 yards away in tunnel used to house munitions. He notices that the skin on his entire left arm is dripping off like a flimsy rag. The shirt on his back is literally burnt off. In the tunnel, some people cut the hanging skin off his arm.
10 minutes after the atomic bomb he tried to stand-up. But couldn’t move. They had to move to safer location because of the munitions.
“I tried to stand, but could not stand any more. I could not walk.”
A man then carried Taniguichi-san to a hill. People pass asking for water. They died quickly. Bodies piled as they fell over and died.
..Night of August 9th, 1945..
All of Nagasaki burnt that night. Flames made the Nagasaki night as bright as sunlight. House, factories, and the mountains in smoldered feverishly. People passed searching for family.
Around dawn it started to rain. He swallowed rain water accumulating on the tree leaves. At sunrise everyone lying around him had died. A rescue team arrived, he tried to ask for help but they thought he was dead. He didn’t have the strength to move or talk.
He was rescued 3 days later and taken to the Shinko Elementary School. Taniguchi-san remained bed ridden, lying on his stomach for 21 consecutive months.
“People at the hospital cheered when I was able to stand.”
Sumiteru Taniguchi January 26th, 1929- August 29th, 2017
