THE ROSE OF HIROSHIMA

Jul.3 SAT, 1999.

Dr.Harada

A famous Hiroshima resident passed away on Friday, June 25.

 Dr.Tomin Harada was a surgeon who spent much of his life working for two related causes: the treatment of atomic bomb survivors and a world at peace with no nuclear weapons. Dr.Harada died peacefully at around 10 am of acute pneumonia at the hospital he himself founded. He was 87.
Dr.Harada served his country in World War II as a military doctor, being based in China and Taiwan. After returning to Japan in 1946, he began his medical practise and specialized in the treatment of keloids and other atomic-bomb related diseases. In 1955 he led the 'Hiroshima Maidens' on a tour of the United States. This was the name given to a group of 25 women who were suffering from keloid scars. In the USA, Dr. Harada met the American journalist Norman Cousins and spent the next year-and-a-half touring the USA explaining the incidence and treatment of diseases caused by radioactivity. Afterwards he teamed up with the peace activist Barbara Reynolds and became an ardent campaigner for world peace. In 1956, Dr.Harada helped to found the World Friendship Centre, which is situated in Minami-ku, Hiroshima, and became its first director. In 1989 Dr.Harada was made an Honorary Citizen of Hiroshima.
Beautiful roses named "Hiroshima Children" are blooming at the rose garden in Regent's Park, London. Dr. Tomin Harada who was a surgeon from Hiroshima and passed away at age 87 in 1999 created this form of rose.
 Japan is the only country that has experienced nuclear bombings. As a composer who was born in Japan, I had a period when I was determined to write a piece of music whose theme was the hope of global peace. I got to know a lot of fabulous people through my Hiroshima friends and listened to their stories.

 Dr. Tomin Harada was one of them. When I went to Hiroshima, I always visited his house and listened to his stories, viewing his garden full of roses in bloom.
It seems very significant that he developed roses after he rose from the disastrous ruins, worked on treatment for A-bomb sickness and was dedicated to pacifist movement.
 There are more than 10,000 forms of roses and each has a name. For instance, a rose called "Peace" was created when World War I ended. Its large beautiful flowers are loved all over the world.

 Dr. Harada's strong desire to develop a rose whose name starts with Hiroshima made it possible to create this new flower. He became friends with an English Poet because of their mutual interest in roses. And Dr. Harada was very happy when he told me his English friend named the rose "Hiroshima Children".
I was determined to write music like Hiroshima roses.
"Out of flaming tragedy,
Out of the bright fire,
Hiroshima with fire and hope,
New life and hope."

 This poem was written by Dr. Harada. I wrote music to it. This chorus has since been performed by Hiroshima musicians not only in Japan but also overseas.

Click below to listen to a sample of this music.

Hiroshima - Short Music Clip

I wondered what thoughts came and went when he first listened to this tune. I will never forget the tears glittering in his eyes at that time.

 February 11, 2000
Written by Hiro Fujikake
Translated by Isako
Title: Rain of Ruin Bombing of Nagasaki
Director:
Produced by: Oregon Public Broadcasting
Year: 1995
Format: VHS
Length: 57 minutes
Catalog number: R1233
Language: English

Description:President Truman threatened a "rain of ruin" to compel Japan's unconditional surrender, culminating in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Was this second bomb, or any atomic bomb, necessary to end the war with Japan? Or was is primary aim to impress Stalin and begin the Cold War?