News
Hiromu Morishita receives the Pestalozzi – Education Award
Honorary Chairperson Hiromu Morishita will receive the 33rd Pestalozzi – Education Award from the Faculty of Education at Hiroshima University. The award ceremony will be held on January 30.
“The Pestalozzi – Education Award was established in 1992 to recognize individuals or organizations that are carrying out outstanding educational practices in the face of extremely difficult educational conditions in our country. The award is intended to provide an opportunity to reconsider contemporary education by recognizing individuals or groups whose educational practices are in the spirit of Pestalozzi.
Hiroko Nishimura of the Group for Learning from Floyd Schmoe visited WFC
On December 11, Ms. Hiroko Nishimura of the Group for Learning from Floyd Schmoe visited WFC. Ms. Nishimura has lectured several times at WFC’s “Pass-on Project Lectures” and has helped us learn more about Floyd Schmoe.
Shortly after their assignment, directors Bradley and Susan also visited the Schmoe House in Eba with their guests. Bradley and Susan had never heard of Mr. Schmoe before coming to Hiroshima, but they were very interested in learning more about him.
Barbara, the founder of the WFC, and Mr. Schmoe, who arrived in postwar Hiroshima to construct houses for hibakusha with his colleagues, share several similarities. Both are special honorary citizens of Hiroshima City, have ties to Eba, are Quakers, and have collaborated with individuals from diverse backgrounds while living close to the hibakusha. The WFC also gives tours of the Schmoe House to guests from overseas. We will continue to work with the Schmoe Study Group to tell the stories of those who worked for peace.
International Festa 2024
On November 24, WFC participated in the “Activities Introduction Corner” at the “International Festa 2024” organized by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation at the International Conference Center Hiroshima.
This year, we decided to focus our introduction on the PAX (Peace Ambassadors Exchange Program) between the U.S. and Korea. In addition to the new directors, board members, and members participating in WFC activities, we were joined by PAX participants who visited the U.S. fall in 2023 and Korea in spring 2024. A total of 120 people stopped by the WFC corner. We were able to publicize PAX, WFC’s activities, and the open house scheduled for December 7 to a wide variety of people, from those familiar with WFC to those new to WFC, and from children to the elderly, who stopped by. We hope this will lead to future activities.
Joel H. Rosenthal visited WFC
The WFC had a visitor from the U.S. on November 15. He is Joel H. Rosenthal, president of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. It was the first overseas visitor for newly arrived directors Bradley and Susan Cox, and we were grateful for the opportunity to introduce him to WFC’s founder, Barbara Reynolds, as well as the history and current activities of the WFC. Mr. Rosenthal was interested in passing on the A-bomb experience, and we explained to him about our efforts in Hiroshima to pass on the A-bomb experience (activities of A-bomb legacy successor, activities by family members of hibakusha to pass on their experiences of the atomic bombings by Hiroshima City, activities of high school students, and WFC’s A-bomb testimonies and activities to pass them on). We would like to thank Mr. Nobuhiro Mitsuoka (Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Design) for introducing the WFC to Mr. Rosenthal and for accompanying him to the WFC, and we hope that the WFC will continue to serve as a bridge for visitors from overseas to meet HIbakusha, learn about the reality of the bombing, and engage in dialogue in order to build peace.
Forms of Peace: Presentations from US Peace Ambassador Exchange (PAX) Delegates
Please join us on August 4th from 10 am to noon at the International House to hear from four delegates visiting Hiroshima from America to share their various perspectives on peace. There will be time for Q&A after they share. We hope to see you there!
Contact our office to register.
office@wfchiroshima.org
080-503-3191
Join us for WFC’s “August 6 Hiroshima Memorial Event 2024”
Join us for WFC’s “August 6 Hiroshima Memorial Event 2024”!
Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 10:30 am
Fee: Free of charge
Download the flyer for “Memorial Event”>>
Listen to the Hibakusha Testimony of Shizuko Abe san with time for Q&A;discuss peace with groups of younger foreign guests;take part in singing, poetry,and conversation at Barbara’s Monument.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event, so please come and join us.
We look forward to seeing you there!
10:30-12:00
Hibakusha Testimony by Shizuko Abe san at Aster Plaza (4th Floor)
registration here: https://forms.gle/dvFrn1yWVNwTai568
12:30-15:00
International Discussions at Aster Plaza (4th Floor)
17:30-18:30
Sharing @ Barbara Reynold’s Monument at Peace Memorial Park
Experiences of Israel & Palestine (2024.04.20 SAT)
As we collectively witness the worsening crisis in Gaza, we seek to understand and come closer to peace. World Friendship Center is pleased to welcome three Hiroshimans with close ties to the people of Israel and Palestine to share their experiences of their lives and relationships with the people there.
Join us to learn, ask questions, and discuss together.
ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke’s visit to Hiroshima
On January 19, the new International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Executive Director Melissa Parke visited Hiroshima for the first time. WFC was among the peace groups welcoming her.WFC Holiday Party 2023 – THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone for attending and making our annual Holiday Party so much fun!
From all of us at World Friendship Center, Happy Holidays!
“Israel-Palestine Teach-in” with Dr. Masaki Mizobuchi
November 25, 2023
“Israel-Palestine Teach-in” with Dr. Masaki Mizobuchi
Our actions feel so small, but we hope they help light the way toward lasting peace.