This year's BzCom SIG Year-end Forum will focus on the transformative power of communication to bridge former adversaries. The forum will delve into the intricate relationship between John Hersey, the American journalist and author of Hiroshima, and Kiyoshi Tanimoto, the Japanese pastor who facilitated Hersey’s groundbreaking narrative by connecting him with Hiroshima survivors. The event will also feature Koko Kondo, an atomic bomb survivor, social activist, and the daughter of Pastor Tanimoto, offering her unique perspective on these historical events.
The forum will explore themes of communication, including the pivotal roles of translators and interpreters, and the essence of journalism in conveying inconvenient truths. In an era shaped by social media and rapid information dissemination, the discussion will reflect on the responsibilities and challenges of sharing critical information.
Against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts and the persistent threat of nuclear weapons—emphasized by this year’s Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Japanese Association of Victims of Atomic Bombs—this forum invites participants to reflect on the enduring power of communication, the moral obligations of journalism, and the global quest for peace.
