The power of picture books and poetry: telling the story of Hiroshima in Sydney

A week-long commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war was held at the University of Sydney. We spoke with two participants from Japan : actress Tokiko Tsuchiya, who works to preserve “atomic bomb literature” and organises reading groups, and Ryoko Nakayama, who works as a journalist in Japan while sharing her grandmother's memories of the bombing.

Tokiko Tsuchiya, who performs readings of picture books about the atomic bomb damage in Hiroshima, visited Sydney to attend the special event at the University of Sydney to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Inset: Ryoko Nakayama also visited Sydney to share her grandmother's experience of the atomic bombing Credit: SBS

The commemorative programs were held at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney from 10 November.

It featured a symposium discussing peace and reconciliation, a performance of contemporary Noh theatre, picture book readings, poetry recitals, and presentations.

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