It was on November 2005 that Ms. Heya told me someone of the injured did not like　the idea that August 6 is being recognized as the day of the event.
3 months passed after the Kagee Exhibition “Modest Wishes” was made public for the 60th after the war. I had never thought of another exhibition every year. I might plan it just for any special occasions. Unexpectedly the labor　for preparation was overwhelming to me as I was too premature and inexperienced. On second thought, however, I was sort of determined to continue every year. Recognizing there were some people who may feel uncomfortable, I have continued the exhibition this year as well. We are in the generations that experienced no war. So I hope we can find out what we could and should do all together step by step through the Kagee Pictures exhibitions.

The 2005 Kagee Pictures ”Modest Wishes” to commemorate the A-bomb ceremony were exhibited and seen by many people　at various locations in Hiroshima throughout year. They were looking forwards to the second exhibition this year. The theme this year was the A-bomb poem by Kazuko Ohira. I was worried and excited about the outcome. I saw a series of the pictures appearing one by one in her kａｇｅｅ Planet Blog showing letters of the poem and the big trees and so forth. Finally I looked into the second Kagee Pictures “Modest Wishes” on August 5, 2006 in Hiroshima.

I was impressed with kind of fantasy of the works that Yuko created through mothers’ sentiment of caring children. At the same time each petal and each leaf in the picture arranged by millimeter touched my heart through its detail and illusion. I could imagine how far she got into depth with heartful pray in developing those pictures.

Tens of thousands of visitors looked at the pictures again this year. They carefully viewed light and shadow of the Kagee pictures. Some viewers were tempted to physically touch the pictures. Although we had to say “hand off, please” , we understand their feelings of frying in the sky by touching it. These Kagee Pictures have power to silently appeal “peace without nuclear” among little kids , the elderly, the sick and the worried.

The August 6 reaches its climax of Toro-nagashi that means sending off the spirits of the dead on lanterns floated on river. We made the lanterns of Kagee pictures with help of the students, the kindergarten pupils and their parents. Many bright lanterns made of Kagee pictures were floating down in the dark waters of the river together with thousands of other Toro lanterns floats. It was when something mysterious took place. My digital camera happened to photograph thousands of white balls with the lanterns. This could be a photo showing a spirit. It gave us impression of being not scary but somewhat familiar. We welcome spirits visiting Kagee Toro. Yuko wished those kids killed by A-bomb would join and enjoy the Kagee Exhibition together with those kids visiting Hiroshima.

Kagee pictures always give me fresh impression as if I saw them for the first time. Kagee is hand-crafted pictures made of papers, paste and color filters. They are hard to preserve for long time. This may be the reason why Kagee has power to retain strongly in memory with its light and shadow.

It was hot and heated on August 6 again this year in Hiroshima. They take it for granted in Hiroshima. August 6 must be heated. It was the same hot day that kagee pictures light up from August 5 this year also at the foot of Motoyasybashi. That was the picture based on the poem by Kazuko Ohira“ mother and kettle” showing mother thinking over the children she separated because of a-bomb. I occasionally saw the kagee works half-done in process. Today I saw its total picture for the first time at Motoyasubashi.. It was the dynamic picture showing the big life-sized tree with tropical birds playing in thick leaves in the center. They are quite dynamic, rich in color and full of refreshing surprises. Many visitors take notice of the Kagee Picture that gets brighter and stronger when getting dark in the evening. We all shared a feeling about misery of A-bomb, silliness of war and sadness of lost lives through calm and heart-warming atmosphere that is created with Kagee pictures and the poem by Mrs. Ohira.

This big tree in the center reminds us of 61 years ago. Experiencing no war, we all could stop and think of peace that each of us certainly can do.

Kagee exhibition was wonderful this year as well. I hope this exhibition will help people get motivated about thinking of war and peace.

Kagee by Yuko Hamasaki seems familiar. Those who visiting Motoyasubashi on August 6 look forwards to the following Kagee Exhibit. That‘s an Impression I got this year.

This summer I worked on a job related to A-bomb in Nagasaki in addition to my job for Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall . That was about DVD production of Dr. Takashi Nagai who was the model for Nagasaki no Kane( Bell of Nagasaki) . He was a man of enthusiasm and continued to pray for peace at hospital. He had no enemy to fight against. He calmly prayed. He demonstrated himself that the ever-lasting efforts make sense. I will try to get closer only by 1% possibly to Dr.Nagai. I am always a hidden supporter of Yuko Hamasaki and her calm and peaceful Kagee Pictures.