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Tag: Nagasaki

  • Minecraft Workshops Reconstruct Pre-Atomic Bombing Cities in Japan

    Minecraft Workshops Reconstruct Pre-Atomic Bombing Cities in Japan

    University students in Japan are using the popular video game Minecraft to educate children about the appearance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before the atomic bombings of August 1945. These workshops aim to help participants grasp the scale of loss and destruction caused by the nuclear attacks.

    Misaki Katayama, a 27-year-old graduate student at the University of Tokyo specializing in peace education, initiated these two-day workshops in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2023. The program targets elementary school students from fourth to sixth grade, tasking them with digitally rebuilding the pre-bombing cityscapes.

    Rebuilding History Through Gaming

    Participants utilize historical maps, photographs, and video footage to reconstruct significant areas within Minecraft, a game renowned for its block-building virtual environment. For instance, a workshop held in Hiroshima on August 4 and 5, 2023, saw students meticulously recreate the district where Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park now stands, including a temple and a kindergarten that were once part of the bustling neighborhood.

    Katayama’s inspiration for the project arose six years ago after an atomic bomb survivor (hibakusha) recounted an elementary student’s comment, “It was lucky that the atomic bomb was dropped on a park.” This statement highlighted a critical gap in understanding, as the student was unaware that the park site was once a vibrant, densely populated area. Katayama noted that as time passes, it becomes increasingly challenging for people to visualize the pre-bombing cities.

    Understanding Loss and Reality

    The workshops are structured to offer a comprehensive learning experience. On the first day, students gather historical information, plan their reconstructions, and build the cityscapes in Minecraft. This activity allows them to experience how long it takes to build a city and how quickly it can be destroyed. The second day transitions to a more somber reflection, where participants view images of hibakusha immediately after the bombing and listen to survivor testimonies. This segment helps them understand the stark reality of the attacks and their transformative impact.

    While digital technology can significantly broaden understanding of historical urban environments, Katayama acknowledges the challenge of ensuring participants remain focused on the educational objective rather than merely the game’s building aspect. She mitigates this by beginning workshops with a moment of silence for atomic bomb victims, emphasizing the gravity and respect required for the subject matter. Katayama believes these digital tools can stimulate imagination and encourage deeper reflection on the atomic bombings and the lives affected.

  • Sombre reflection on noticeboard of Nagasaki Starbucks

    Sombre reflection on noticeboard of Nagasaki Starbucks

    Usually, the handwritten message of the day at Starbucks cafes are light-hearted, but to mark the anniversary of Japan’s surrender that ended World War II, a Nagasaki Starbucks outlet decided to take a more serious tone.

    Nagasaki was one of two Japanese cities destroyed by a nuclear bomb near the end of the conflict.

    “Almost all the beans for the coffee we drink are imported from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions … A year from now, that coffee might no longer be available because of civil war and other conflict,” says the message.

    It says coffee can actually come from perilous parts of the world.

    “You probably don’t think of the concepts of war and peace having such a direct connection to yourself, but now, as you’re drinking your coffee or frappuccino, knowing that you might not be able to do so in the future, is this not an opportunity to reflect on peace?” the message continues.

    “This is the 72nd summer since the end of World War II. What does ‘peace’ mean to you?”

    “Hate has no home here”

    Meanwhile, in the US, Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz convened a forum in Seattle entitled “Hate has no home here”.

    A small rock Schultz had brought back from the Auschwitz concentration camp 17 years ago was passed around as “a tangible reminder of unchecked hate” as the gathering addressed the recent events in the US involving white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

    “I come to you with profound, profound concern about the lack of character, morality, humanity, and what this might mean for young children and young generations,” he told the crowd of more than 500 in the room, plus 1000 in overflow areas. “We are imprinting them with levels of behaviours and conduct that are beneath the United States of America.”

    He said it was a critical juncture in American history. “The moral fibre, the values and what we as a country have stood for is literally hanging in the abyss.”

    For 90 minutes, as the rock circulated around the room, Schultz shared his thoughts, followed by Starbucks partners.

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