..October 2011.. ..New York..
Atomic bomb survivor Mrs. Setsuko Thurlow speaking about the tragedy in Fukushima, Japan and the future of nuclear energy.
Mrs. Thurlow survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing when she was 13 years old. She moved to Canada later in life and became a prominent voice to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear weapons.
..October 2011.. ..Kyoto..
The most recent portraits of atomic bomb survivors from the on-going FROM ABOVE series exhibited at the Kyoto Peace Museum in Kyoto, Japan.
The book, FROM ABOVE, is still available. This is where you can purchase the book or please contact me through e-mail.
US: https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=Q-90425608&AREA=02&LANG=E
Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/ABOVE-%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AC%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A3%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8E/dp/4904256085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311731696&sr=8-1
Europe: http://www.c-fac.jp/online.html
..September 2011.. ..New York to Tokyo..
My recent Nippon tv interview about the book release of From Above and portraits of atomic bomb survivors.
http://www.news24.jp/articles/2011/09/21/10191096.html
..August 2011.. ..New York..
FROM ABOVE, my photo book, featuring survivors of the atomic bombs; the Tokyo and Dresden fire bombings and the Bikini Incident, at Kinokuniya book store in New York. It is also available on-line through this link.
https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=Q-90425608&AREA=02&LANG=E
From September 13th-Ocober 13 th I will be exhibiting the most recent portraits of atomic bomb survivors from the on-going FROM ABOVE series at the Kyoto Peace Museum in Kyoto, Japan. I have attached the posters and venue information.
Please take a look if you’re in Japan.
The book, FROM ABOVE, will be available at the venue. It has been released in Japan, US and Europe. This is where you can purchase the book.
US: https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=Q-90425608&AREA=02&LANG=E
Europe: http://www.c-fac.jp/online.html
From Above
Photography Exhibition in Hiroshima
By Paule Saviano
Venue
Kyoto Peace Museum
56-1 Kitamachi,
Toji-in, Kita-ku, Kyoto
Japan
Telephone: 075-465-8151
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/mng/er/wp-museum/english/index.html
September 13th-October 13th, 2011
..August 2011.. ..New York..
FROM ABOVE, my photo book, featuring survivors of the atomic bombs; the Tokyo and Dresden fire bombings and the Bikini Incident, at Kinokuniya book store in New York. It is also available on-line through this link.
https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=Q-90425608&AREA=02&LANG=E
An Asahi article about the From Above photography exhibition in Hiroshima.
Yoshiro Yamawaki-san
74 years old
11:02AM August 9, 1945
Yamawaki-san’s story is about recovering his father’s body. He was 11 years old. Lived 2.2km from the epicenter. He and his brother where at home eating lunch at the time of the blast.
The atomic bomb blast tore apart the home. He remembers hearing the plane above. The surge of the blast. They could see the sky through the damaged ceiling beams. Nagasaki on fire and destroyed.
They waiting all night for their father to return from the Mitsubishi Steelworks factory located near the epicenter, 500 meters. He never returned. They assumed he would return home.
The next morning, August 10th, 1945, he and his brother decide to walk to the factory. The factory was located on the Urakami River. Very close to the building I was now sitting in 64 years later. I could see the former location over Yamawaki-san’s shoulder through the large window at the end of the room.
As they walked closer to the factory the devastation grew worse. They had to step easily to avoid breaking the heaps of bodies lying on what used to be streets along the river. Swollen dead bodies and scorched debris.
“…Those who died were swollen like black rubber dolls and their skin peeled off when touch even slightly.” -Mr. Yamawaki
They froze at the site of the Mitsubishi Steelworks factory. Almost nothing was left. At the factory, they found a worker who knew where their father’s body was. The 2 young boys collected wood to cremate their father’s body. They set the fire.
“…My brother and I collected pieces of wood, which we used to cremate our father’s body. When we saw the flames licking up his feet, we couldn’t stop the tears from flowing…..” -Mr. Yamawaki
They returned the next day to find the body wasn’t fully cremated. Only his hands and feet were burnt to the bones. Saddened they have not told their now 92 year old mother the story. They never will.
Mr. Yamawaki was the only Survivor to tell his story in English. I was surprised, when asked why he learned English in his late 60’s. He had retired and found it necessary to continue learning. It’s another display of the spirit of the Hibakusha I met in Nagasaki. Their will to want to live and go beyond.
Map of Yamawaki-san’s journey to recover his father’s body the day after atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Yamawaki-san was the 3rd portrait taken on my first day of photographing in Nagasaki. I photographed him at the atomic bomb epicenter close to the other locations I photographed the entire project. All of the portrait locations were taken within 300 feet of each other.
Yamawaki-san’s portrait was one of the more challenging portraits. He had a very serious demeanor. It wasn’t until seeing the print at the exhibition in Gallery EF did I see the softness in his eyes.
In the gallery, the serious tone on his face felt lighter and more reflective. A lot less tension in his face than in my original thoughts. His shoulders on the print were relaxed and softer around the edges.
What also felt different about his portrait and conversation was he was the only Hibakusha who spoke English. It brought a different dynamic to our friendship. Not that I felt more comfortable with him because we spoke the same language. I was very comfortable communicating in Japanese through a translator with everyone I met.
..August 2011.. ..Nagasaki..
Throughout his life Mr. Yamaguchi has been a dedicated Hibakusha activist. He is know by many from a photograph taken of his upper body showing keloid scars.
In 1982, he addressed a UN Special Session on Disarmament. Mr. Yamaguchi tirelessly traveled the world speaking to anyone who wanted to hear about the horrors of nuclear weapons.
I photographed Mr. Yamaguchi while in Nagasaki for the From Above photo exhibition. It was an unexpected opportunity. One of those great surprises.
He is in very fragile condition. But still has a sharp mind and understanding of current events. He hasn’t left his home much in 7 years. I greatly appreciate the invitation from his wife, Sachiko, to meet Mr. Yamaguchi.
I enjoyed the 40 minutes photographing and speaking with him. I will never forget. He is probably the most impressive person I’ve ever photographed.
..August 2011.. ..Hiroshima..
Setting up installation for FROM ABOVE photography exhibition in Hiroshima.
