Ｉ　am 40 this year. Although my life style remains basically unchanged from my 20,30s, I realize there is one thing that’s different. That is, I see more people who are mentally ill. I don’t know why?
It’s because of time or my getting old? It appears that many people today have now lost something such as direction of living. People eat to live and work to eat. Most of us can live without thinking such obvious matter. However, we are getting overwhelmed with big anxiety. If we suddenly lose houses, materials and precious acquaintances, how should we react?
Can we keep ourselves to live, or try to survive over garden weeds? Having interviewed the bombing casualties, I was impressed with their strong power to live, their instinct to survive despite any serious disaster. When people get rich, they seem to make that instinct less powerful. We must have lots to learn from those who suffered the war. I hope the Kagee based on the theme “Living” this year would encourage and motivate our visitors. I trust the strong power to live of our generation would be to pay tribute to the memory of those returning to Hiroshima on August 6.

The Kagee works by Yuko Hamazaki and the Hiroshima citizens were introduced through the a-bomb special live broadcasting NHK Hiroshima “ Letters from the bombing casualties” 0:00-2:00 August 8 Wed. Many thanks. The letters reflect misery of Hiroshima and self-reproach by the survivors. At the same time they referred to their strong spirit full of hope and power of life.
I feel that the Kagee together with the public reading was an impressive way to express one’s strength to live despite tremendous difficulty in a gentle and subtle manner. Many visitors must have felt the same. Many responses from audiences during broadcasting such as 888 e-mails and 116 fax messages. What’s impressive was that many teens and the young reacted in general. The Kagee contributed to the thought that young people need to take it as a matter of themselves and think about it. I think it’s a significance of Kagee power.
I remind myself of value to continue to communicate the tradition of Hiroshima. Let’s keep
It in mind and do something individually next year and next, next year as well

The Modest Wishes 1908 based on the theme ”Living” attracted many visitors in Hiroshima and started a round tour right after the end of exhibit. What’s particular this year was 2 hours tv program “Letters from the bombing casualties” broadcast nationally by NHK Hiroshima. These Kagee were effectively used together with the narration. The idea by Keiko Sugiura , NHK announcer, was great with its narration and flow of the show. I appreciate it very much. I was amazed by its high audience rating despite midnight.
The events through the Kagee Exhibit now is sort of a routine to pay tribute to the memory of the casualties and wishes for world peace supported by many citizens and others. The costs for these acts and arrangements for interviewing and production were paid so far by the related individuals. What’s secondarily particular this year is that we decided to ask for public donations among the related acquaintances to cover the costs for production and consequent Kagee tours in Hiroshima
The third point this year, which has nothing to do with the Kagee Exhibit, is that the Ministry of Education and Science approved for the first time recording the casualties of Hiroshima in the government education drill. In 63 years after the war so-called peace education was officially acknowledged. However, reality is no adequate educational materials available that fit peace education. Production of Kagee books and Kagee DVD are being discussed. In view of these environments we have begun establishing NPO to ensure and sustain continuity of these activities. I believe the Kagee will become a good educational materials to be used by hands-on teachers to build mind of peace especially for kindergarten pupils in its stage of development.
Fantasy shown by the Kagee is dramatic… Grand parents talk to grand children and parents talk to children through Kagee----. We thank you for your support continuing “the modest wishes kagee” towards the new objectives and dream.

I experienced being in Hiroshima on August 8 this year and 2006.When it comes to Hiroshima, it is the chirring of cicadas to me. Nowadays we are seldom exposed to the chirring in Tokyo. Hearing cicadas’ chirring, I think of Hiroshima. Hiroshima after the bombing is simply a black and white world in my imagination. Kagee by Hamasaki-san gave the b&w world colors. The gentle colors and lines give impression of “ living forwards”. Keiko Matui(?) said after her live show “ August 6 makes me think of the various thoughtfully”. She gently and precisely sang one by one on the stage. I think the August 6 should be the day I need to think over thoughtfully even in Tokyo.

My favorite cartoon “Simpsons”: Father Homer ate globefish at sushi bar and was sentenced to death in 24 hours because of its poison. He tried hard to figure out how to best spend the rest of life through being kind to parents and lot others .It was a wrong diagnosis. Recognizing value of life, he made up his minds not to waste a second from now on. In a week he lied on sofa , ate potato chips and watched dull bowling games.
It is no laughing matter. Stupor resulting from a long period of peace prevails during time of peace. This is a matter of course as human nature. I am inclined to think there should be a bright and better way of living even in the peaceful period. That’s a way of “Dobbaa” living. In other word, gorgeous living. It is to require no enormous spending but give and get lots of love to/from other people. It is to put lots of energy to jobs and lots of affection to something beautiful.
Now you notice that Hamasaki Kagee takes and gives maximum love. grudge and energy. She lives a gorgeous life by transferring them to many people gathering in Hiroshima. Really she lives a rich and gorgeous life.
I believe that living brightly is the wishes for the biggest peace.

I received a fax message from mother near August 6. It described the situation on the following morning after the bombing in A4 paper in details. Mother was on the way home at Mukainada from Yokokawa in the burned-out field with nothing memorable sign through Kaniya-cho and Aioi Bridge which was the center of the bombing. Mother was 19 years old. She went through the hell of city in hot summer with no foods and became unconscious when she got home.
Mother used to cook “ one cent western foods” made of flour with bonito shavings when I was a kid. She occasionally sang a song. She made our clothes. She really started out of zero or more precisely from minus to survive. I saw my mother in the Kagee pictures.
The Kagee were beautifully displayed in the light. Just like mothers reading picture books for kids, mothers and kids talked over each Kakee picture alongside the street. It’s a sufficient accomplishment of the Kagee Exhibit. I hope those children who live in Hiroshima listen to the unheard voices under the ground and look forwards to future with strong minds. Value of life triumphs over authority. I expect them to continue to do so. I thank cooperation from students and teachers at Geenz kindergarten, Johoku junior and senior high schools in Hiroshima. Many visited and enjoyed our Kagee Exhibit thanks to you.

I participated in the 4th Hiroshima Kagee Exhibition through my live music performance with some financial contribution to the exhibition. I managed to perform 15 tunes at the two stages. I hope I could continue for the future as well. “Blue Sky- The Heavens” is one of my original songs. I was not Hiroshima oriented when I produced this song. However, it eventually involved lots of my own thoughts about peace. We are the generations of no knowledge about the war. But my staying in Hiroshima on August 6 reminded me of needs of some actions based on thorough understanding of the factual disaster.

Look at and there's the sky, is
Nothing but just the sky, is
You can built a rainbow bridge
With color of your sigh, of your tears, of your heart, of your love
I wanna hear your laughing and live together
I wanna sing a little song for you
I wanna sing a piece of love to you
I don't know why the world is such mess
But I know, you can make it something else
I wanna sing a little song for you
I wanna sing a piece of love to you
I wanna make a little world with you
I wanna hear your laughing for ever more
Live together...
And this is just a little song for you

http://jp.youtube.com/user/pommeSwingagogo

I was flabbergasted when I saw the Kagee that Hamasaki-san produced for the first time on June 6. I was impressed with the Kagee full of bright colors as I had seen only black and white Kagee at the puppet shows. I was interested to send message of peace through Kagee. I worked on it hard. It was not easy for me to cut out each willow leaf one by one.
Finally I completed production on the following day June 22. I was satisfied. The Kagee pictures were displayed on August 5&6 in the open space,the east side of Motoyasu River. I was very happy as many people stopped and watched the exhibit. Many thanks to Hamasaki-san and all visitors to us.

I participated in the Kagee Exhibit as a school program member. My first impression was that it seemed troublesome when I heard about the Kagee Exhibit at school. I was surprised with beautiful brightness of Kagee when I saw the works of the 2007 Kagee exhibition on June 21 at the women education center. Then, I feel obliged not to make the Exhibition fail with my dull involvement. I must work hard to make contribution. However this was my first experience and I have no skills at all. I managed to contribute finishing works with help of Hamasaki-san and other staff. I helped preparation and arrangement to make it into a great exhibit.
Next year will be another year for me to do the same. Dozo Yoroshiku!

I enjoyed participating in Kagee production first time on June 21.Good works completed. They looked nice (during daytime in the display stand. In the evening, they really looked great. I was amazed. I made mistake in the picture where Sadako sasaki-san making paper cranes in the hospital. The Kagee picture in the center by Hamasaki-san was really impressive to me. I am interested in involving again the next year too.

Drawing picture with thinking about peace. I was not cooperative in such matter when I was in elementary school. But since I live in Hiroshima I felt I must think a little more about peace and joined the school club specializing in social issues at Junior High. I was not fully involved.
So, involving in the Kagee Exhibit was my first experience of “ producing something” in the club activities. We proceeded with production on June 21 and 22. The idea was fine, but actual production was not easy. We managed to finish the works with help of Hamasaki-san. Although I could not visit the Exhibition on August 5 & 6, I greatly appreciate that valuable experience. I learned that any individual has his or her own way to think about peace and sends own messages in own way. I will try to figure out my own way to appeal peace.

I saw Kagee for the first time at Hiroshima Women Education Center where we planned to produce Kagee our own. I thought it was impossible for me to produce such a sophisticated Kagee. I learned that Kagee is produced with combination of its design, its techniques and materials. A senior came up with the idea. My job was to proceed based on that idea using the skills and materials. Hamasaki-san modified the idea and consequently we modified our process accordingly. The senior cut out street car. I cut out the Atomic Bomb Dome and willow leaves one by one. The theme this year was “Living”. I worked together with my senior students very closely. We all were very pleased when finished. Other works were prepared by other groups. We all looked forwards to the exhibit. I appreciate these opportunities and experiences where many people stopped and watched our exhibit with smile and excitement.

I felt like I was doing something beyond my powers when I participated in the Kagee Exhibit this year. Last year was on visitor’s side and this year I was on presenter’s side. I enjoyed the new side. I met many warm-hearted people through the Kagee exhibition. It was a wonderful experience to me. Thank you. I want to join the next year too.

We as “members of social issues study “participated in the Kagee Exhibit which theme was “Living in Hiroshima after the Bombing” 0n August 5 & 6. We showed the same exhibit at School Festival on September 27 & 28. We challenged kagee production for the first itime.
We first saw Kagee on June 21 at Hiroshima Women Education Center where Hamasaki-san as Kagee producer presented how to produce Kagee in front of many people including press.
So we needed to proceed with Kagee production. First we must come up with the basic idea to start with. While we were struggling ,Hamasaki-san gave us direction very wisely. I was a member of Baseball Club and my friends of the club helped set up the Kagee display at Motoyasu Bridge It was my great experience to see Kagee and Hamasaki-san. Recognizing people who experienced the bombing and the war get fewer now, I trust we must tell the following generations horror of the bombing and the war as well as value of peace. I will commit myself to further involvement through adding to these experiences.