In a recent interview with NHK World-Japan, Professor Naoko Wake offered a reflection on the enduring legacy of Hibakusha — the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — and the importance of preserving their stories.
Dr. Wake, who has researched how individuals navigate complex identities shaped by war, displacement, cultural memory, and activism, emphasized that the voices of Hibakusha are not only personal accounts of survival but also vital historical records.
“I think that not only the collection of survivors’ voices, but also preservation of those voices, is very important. There has to be investment into that,” Dr. Wake said.
“We can expand our network of thinking and understanding, better understanding the history of the bomb, by actively engaging more of those individuals who have at least firsthand experience of talking to survivors.”
Watch the full NHK World-Japan interviews here: