George Takei Remembers Hiroshima | Takei's Take Japan

(Takei) In my endless quest to learn all things tech,

I've come to a modern city devoted to peace.

I'm George Takei and this is Takei's Take: Hiroshima.

On August 6th, 1945,

the United States dropped the first atomic bomb

on the Japanese port city of Hiroshima,

killing tens of thousands of men, women, and children instantly.

No single bomb has ever caused such mass destruction.

It is man's worst use of technology.

At the time, I was eight years old, living in an internment camp

in Tule Lake, California.

I would not know the fate of our family living in Hiroshima

until the war had ended.

I have come to Hiroshima many times to visit family

and revisit history.

It's always compelling, haunting, beautiful, and unspeakably sad.

It is also a place fervently committed to peace.

(Takei) That was ground zero.

A strong concrete building that was able to withstand

the atomic bombing.

The people of Hiroshima wanted to keep that as a reminder

of both the power and horror of the atomic bomb.

This island here that we're on

was a district that was dense and vibrant with life.

Shops, restaurants, movie theaters...

and it was flattened.

(Takei) Brad and I go to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

to get a tour from its Deputy Director, Noriyuki Masuda,

Mr. Masuda has a mission.

...to show future generations that these weapons

should definitely be eradicated from our society.

(speaking Japanese)

(Takei) The man who was sitting there cast a shadow

- and he probaby burned to death.
- Hmm.

And you can see the outline there

and the other part over here looked much lighter.

(speaking Japanese)

That explosion took place 600 meters above the ground,

and you see it right over ground zero.

And the impact was 280 meters on the ground.

My grandmother's house was right about there.

My aunt [Tahikiko's] home is over there.

(Takei) This museum memorializes the tragedy,

its victims and its aftermath,

which includes the city's ongoing devotion to peace,

not just here, but throughout the world.

Since 1968, all Hiroshima mayors have written protest letters

to countries possessing nuclear arms.

From 1968 to now, over 660 protests were sent.

Of course, this wall is not large enough to display all the letters.

We have some more on the other side and more in the back

so you can see all of them in one glance.

(Takei) Hiroshima's commitment to peace is inspiring.

Aside from this museum, the Peace Memorial Park

runs through the city's center.

Hiroshima is among the few places on earth,

outside of the United States,

that celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday.

I marched with Dr. King,

and his words resonate here.

We have learned to fly the air like birds,

and swim the sea like fish,

but we have not learned the simple art of living together

as brothers.

Every year, on August 6th, the world remembers

a terrible act of war.

Every year, on August 6th, the people of Hiroshima

recommit themselves to peace.

And they invite all of us to join them.

To hear more personal stories about survivors,

learn more about the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

and explore the Peace Database, visit:
www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp.