Small speech at the children's monument, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, April 1st 2026:
Dear guides and survivors, band and orchestra members, parents, friends.
Usually, humans who experience great harms and trauma want to move on. Forget the bad parts and enjoy the rest.
1/x
2/x
Since first time I took part in Hiroshima’s August 6th memorial events, I have been thinking about the emotional labour the people of Hiroshima go through every year to keep the memory of the worst event to ever happen to their city alive. It is so hard to choose to remember the horrors as vividly and repeatedly as you have chosen to do.
And I think we, as in all other citizens of the world, owe the citizens of Hiroshima a great debt.
3/x
Humanity and our planet somehow survived the Cold War, when the super powers had enough nuclear weapons to wipe out life as we know it.
During this period, the citizens of Hiroshima were the world’s conscience, never tiring of reminding world leaders that nuclear weapons should never be used again.
5/5
Dear survivors! For the stories you have told us, and for all hard work keeping these stories remembered, and for your campaigning against nuclear weapons during all these years, we thank you. Us school band children, youth and parents will always remember the stories and impressions of the peace memorial museum.
Music connects people, and connecting humans is our best hope for peace, so we will thank you with music.
hallvors