From Hiroshima to Fukushima: Nuclear Dangers and Poetry of Nuclear Survival

The Simons Foundation partnered with the Centre for Japanese Research and the Liu Institute for Global Issues at The University of British Columbia in the presentation of a 2-day series of events sponsored by The Asahi Shimbun surrounding the visit to Vancouver by renowned actor Sayuri Yoshinaga and composer/pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto. 

On Monday, May 3rd, The Simons Foundation, the Liu Institute for Global Issues at The University of British Columbia, and the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University convened a lunch time panel discussion on Nuclear Dangers from Hiroshima to Fukushima.  Copies of the speeches and presentations made are available at the links below.

Opening remarks by Chair, Dr. Jennifer Allen Simons
President, The Simons Foundation

"Prospects for Nuclear Disarmament: A Japanese Perspective"
Dr. Fumihiko Yoshida, Visiting Scholar, The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

"Prospects for Nuclear Disarmament: A Canadian Perspective"
Amb. (Ret'd) Paul Meyer, Adjunct Professor of International Studies and Fellow in International Security at the Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University; and Senior Fellow, The Simons Foundation

"North Korea as a Nuclear Danger"
Dr. Brian Job, Professor of Political Science; Associate Director, Institute of Asian Research, The University of British Columbia

"Nuclear energy in Japan: The public and political debate"
Dr. Yves Tiberghien, Associate Professor of Political Science; Director, Institute of Asian Research, The University of British Columbia

Later on May 3rd, actor Sayuri Yoshinaga and composer/pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto presented From Hiroshima to Fukushima: Poetry of Nuclear Survival, a reading and musical  performance of poems by survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs and the Fukushima nuclear disaster at The Chan Centre for the Perfoming Arts - Telus Studio Theatre, UBC.  Students of the UBC's Asian Studies and Creative Writing also took part in the performance and Opening Remarks were provided by Dr. Jennifer Allen Simons.

The following evening, May 4th, a free screening was held at Vancity Theatre of Nagasaki: Memories of My Son, starring actors Sayuri Yoshinaga and Kazunari Ninomiya, as mother and son in postwar Nagasaki, with music by Ryuichi Sakamoto.