 I'm Martian Joyner and we are navigating the journey. Today's journey is, it is a sad and it is a glorious journey. August 6, 8 and 9, 1945 are auspicious dates to include in your memory bank for you to hold on to, to remember. In the closing days of World War II, the world changed forever. August 6, the Americans dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. August 8, President Harry Truman signed the United Nations Charter, making America the first nation to complete the ratification process of the UN. And before the ink was dry, August 9, another exceptional day that we must remember was that the United States dropped a plutonium bomb devastating the city of Nagasaki. The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and thus the Cold War began. So, to talk about all of this and why we are commemorating August 9, is my dear, dear friend, Joanne Tachibana. Joanne is the President of the United Nations Association of Hawaii Chapter. Good morning, Joanne. Good morning, Martia. Thank you for the wonderful introduction and the overview of our commemorative celebrations. Together, more than a decade plus, it's been my privilege and pleasure to work with Martia to commemorate the often forgotten Nagasaki bombing on August 9. The community always celebrates August 6 with our sister city relationship and then they forget that the Americans bombed Nagasaki. And in between that bombing, August 8, which the day that the United Nations Association crossed the world celebrates, is when President Truman did sign that United Nations Charter. We say, wow, we've been World War I, World War II, and now we're going to have peace. We're going to gather all these wonderful nations and say, I want to work for peace, right? And this is the next stage, you know, with a bomb Nagasaki. So it is indeed a very troubling time and a significant moment. And so I have been a wonderful peace partner with Martia and we have constantly worked to bring attention to the second bombing of Nagasaki and this most significant time. And, you know, this year, we are so privileged because we have been, we are working with some wonderful peace partners and the Myokonomiya Hoji Temple on 2003, the One Avenue is where we're having our commemorative celebration on August 9 at 9 at 10 a.m. So we're hoping you can join us and we have some wonderful projects throughout the day. We have interstate members coming. And I guess Baker is going to be Dr. Maya Satorin and who is the consultant for the Obama Foundation. We'll be joined by the Council General of Japan and the Nagasaki Kenjin Kai, which is the group with Kibakusha, the people that survived the bombing of Nagasaki. And we have a wonderful program which Martia and I, our peace partner, Seeds for Peace, the Bahais, the Royal Wine Chapter and Nagasaki Kenjin Kai. And we have worked together to create this wonderful program for the public which everybody's invited to. And, you know, we are really pleased because the Royal Hawaiian Band has annually joined us to make this such a wonderful program. So, that's some highlights of that program on Friday, August 9. And, Joanne and I started this 1990, was it? I think that was 1990. It seems it's been a wonderful piece to you. When the Hibakusha of Nagasaki gave the bell to Honolulu, Stalingrad, which is now St. Petersburg, and Manchuria, the three cities that the Japanese bombed. And they gave us this lovely, lovely bell which is located in a beautiful, what was a little beautiful valley, reminiscent of Nagasaki. But now they built all kind of things around it so you lose the idea that it was a beautiful little valley. But they gave that bell to us and money to maintain it. So, from the time that bell was dedicated until now, that's been 1990, we might as well, if Frank Fosse was mayor and he did not like the idea of anything from Japan, he was still fighting the war. He did not want anything. So, he put that bell in storage, as well as the Hiroshima bell in storage. So, there they lie. It was a major fight to get them out. And then finally, City Council, don't ask me, oh, what was it? So, it was a long fight, a hard fight, but it was worth it. It's been worth every bit of it. Absolutely. And don't forget to mention that the city of Nagasaki was the first city in the world to have a bell that was dedicated to the city of Nagasaki. So, the city of Nagasaki was the first city in the world to have a bell that was dedicated to the city of Nagasaki. And don't forget to mention that the city of Nagasaki was very grateful to you and Val and how you got that award and that you have that symbol, right? Maybe talk a little bit about that. That's a really important part of their history. Yes. And I was given, like with Val and his wife, Francis, the Nagasaki Peace Prize, which was fabulous. And I have a replica of the bell that's absolutely darling. Yes. But the big prize was an all-expense trip to Nagasaki for both my husband and me. First-class air accommodations. The hotel was fabulous. It was, don't ask me the name of the hotel, but it was a French hotel. Okay. With the Japanese design, the Japanese interior, that culture where every little detail is taken care of, every day. Right. They paid for our food, our transportation, and to be at N Nagasaki on August 9th at that moment is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The bell ringing? When they, you know, on August 9th, to be there, to walk around the circles around the, what do you call it, round zero, and to hear the bells, Nagasaki bells ringing throughout the city. And of course there is the Nagasaki bomb museum, which is a descent into hell. It's a descent into hell. There's nothing else you can say about that. Yeah. Yeah. And so that having that experience is what allows me to keep going, to honor the people of Nagasaki, to thank the people, the Hibak people, for what they've done for us. We can't imagine. Seven thousand degrees is what the temperature was when they dropped the bomb. Seven thousand degrees. And we're talking about 90 degrees of talk. You know, how dare we. Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah. Well, we really appreciate the fact that we, you know, that you and Val and Fran brought this back to Hawaii, and that we have been able to commemorate with our interfaith clergy and peace partners for this number of these past few decades. And I think as we work toward the 2020, which is the 75th anniversary of Nagasaki bombing, Hiroshima and the United Nations, you know, we were making some wonderful plans to celebrate. And the United Nations Association for Hawaii has initiated a project the last number of years to make people aware of the sunflower and its significance. And the sunflowers became a symbol of peace and nuclear disarmament when the Defense Ministers in Russia and the Ukraine met on a missile base in 1996. They were celebrated by scattering sunflower seeds and planting sunflowers everywhere, because under those to me before I knew this, that sunflowers remove toxins, including nuclear waste, soil and water. So this is, so we have brought sunflowers and awareness and seeds to, we have children youth day for the last 20 years. And on the first Sunday of the month, in Hawaii, the first to have commemorative days for children. And so we have to bring awareness. And now it's been for the Nagasaki ceremony. We are initiating awareness of the sunflowers and passing out seeds. And we worked with, we have a pleasure of Ceria Kumar, which it has his farm in Waianae. There's been a plot that there will be sunflowers looming for a commemorative celebration in 2020. And we're looking forward to actually having many plots of sunflowers all over the island and perhaps the state of Hawaii so that people will constantly remind them stop nuclear war and please work to make the world a better place and peacefulness. So for 2020. I have a suggestion. Okay. If we can be on good terms with the mayor. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes. Let's do that. Let's do this. Okay. Now, what used to be Barber's Point was left in a mess, an absolute mess when the Navy moved out. Oh, the Kalalua area? So there is a plot of land that belongs to the city and it is earmarked for a part. The city has done nothing. Nothing. Okay. Okay. So let's see if we can get that plot of land to plant the sunflower seeds. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe because if they do a parking in a sunflower garden as part of that, that would be, you know, that would be symbolic. It would be wonderful. Let's work on that. Yes. Because if it, you know, it took them 20 years to get this little plot of land on Aloha's Drive in Waikiki. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So who knows how, so if we start now, we might get this, you know. Yeah. I think that, you know, this is wonderful because new people are joining us and become aware. And then recently, the lemon tree project, which is the eco-op sustainability date, they plant lemon trees in schools and 75 schools of lemon trees get up carbon dioxide. And so we met and then so, we made a donation so that they will plant sunflowers around the lemon trees. So we're going to try to raise funds so that, you know, sustainable projects in schools, you know, the students, they have a curriculum and everything and sunflowers would be an added touch. So we're really looking forward to, you know, people would say, wow, that's so beautiful. You know, the sunflowers and Wailua recently write that. Oh, it's so gorgeous. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So we're going to contact them to see if they would be a sustainable partner, you know. So they have the know-how. It's so exciting. Yeah, they have the know-how. Yeah. It's really exciting. Absolutely so exciting. So maybe with Ikeika being the chair of the council. Yes. And the mayor, both of whom term out next year. Maybe this could be their last, this, their going away present. Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, yeah. And then so I'm hoping, looking forward to the Council Chair Anderson will be able to even join us on this August 9th, you know. And I am so excited. I think we work so hard in this more awareness in the last year, this year, right? So I really, I'm so grateful that we have continued this work. Well, listen, Joanne, we need to take a break and we will be back in 60 seconds. Okay, sure. And let's talk about where we go from here. Okay? Okay. Thank you. Alrighty. Aloha. I'm Stan Osterman. Stan the energy man. Every Friday here on Think Tech Hawaii. If you're really interested in finding out what's going on in energy, especially here in Hawaii, but also all the way around the world and especially if it has to do with hydrogen. Look into Stan the energy man every Friday, 12 o'clock, Think Tech Hawaii. Be there. Aloha. Aloha. I'm Keisha King, host of At the Crossroads where we have conversations that are real and relevant. We have spoken with community leaders from right here locally in Hawaii and all around the world. Won't you join us on ThinkTechHawaii.com or on YouTube on the Think Tech Hawaii channel. Our conversations are real, relevant, and lots of fun. I'll see you at the Crossroads. Aloha. Aloha. I'm Marcia Joyner and we are back. We are navigating the journey. The journey through the bombing Nagasaki. And needless to say over the years I have learned so much, Joanne and I. Joanne, I guess. The one thing that I just discovered but you told me more about it was the Constitution that was written after the war and first by the Japanese and then of course the American woman that worked for MacArthur really wrote the final draft which I think was just a fabulous document. Because it replaced the Menji Constitution of 1889. Can you believe that? So what do you know about it? Right. Well, it was so significant and I know the Americans really encouraged the Japanese to make sure that there would be a normal war. They were so aggressive right there brutal to the countries they go to, you know, China and Burma and everything, right? So, I think they would never again raise arms against any other nation, right? So, I really felt that it was very significant that the Constitution that would renounce war and exercise take out the concept of war from all people. And so they started the reign of peace, right? And May 3, 1947 the Japanese post-war Constitution went into effect. Progressive Constitution granted universal suffrage, which is like amazing, right? Not doing it in places women voting in America was so hard. People don't realize how many women do not have the opportunity to vote. It took a long time for many, I apologize, third world countries to even accept that. Some women should be able to vote, right? And at the same time, the Constitution took away the powers that emperor Hirohito became a very symbolic rather than like the sun god but he became a symbolic power for the people to have an emblem, you know? And they had a bill of right. It's a abolished period. Outlawed Japanese right to make war, okay? Which is like really significant. Article 9, forbade the Japanese to wage war again, right? And there was even like political parties that base the premise on peace, right? So it was, you know, when you look back at the history, it was so significant, right? And the most important reform carried out with the American occupation was the establishment of the new Constitution. And a gentleman like Arthur, who really worked hard to rebuild Japan after the devastation of the bombings even in Tokyo Hiroshima and Nagasaki, right? He gave up much of his authority to the Japanese government, which indicates a lot of where, what role he played in making, imparting the Japanese back after being so, so devastated, you know? And then in September 1951, the United States and 48 other nations signed a formal peace treaty with Japan. April 28, 1952 the treaty went into effect in Japan so full sovereignty as the Allied occupation came to an end. And in general, my car there was a visionary and a peacemaker on the nose to so many. And I was very touched by reading the history of his contribution to not have the emperor was executed as a symbol of, you know, destroy Japan after him. Yes. And I have to tell you though that my husband was in the occupation of Japan. Oh, wow. He was quite young at the time. Early stages of the early stages of being in the Navy. Yeah. Yes. Very early. However, when we went back to as guests of the Japanese of Nagasaki he danced with he turned into that sailor again. He sang the Japanese songs. He danced with the all the ladies. It was unbelievable how he rolled back all those years and because he spoke so highly of being in Japan in 1952 you know and in the occupation and to see it then see the rubble and then to see it when we went back. It was unbelievable. Well, you know it. So watch this big guy turn into this young sailor. Yes. Peace is not so easy to accomplish but I think that Americans under MacArthur really has become a nation of friendship. Right. And then the United Nations of the UNESCO says that since war begins in the minds of men it is in the minds of men that the sense of peace must be constructed and that's a message that we really try to empower young people to be where you know who well when we think of this volunteer military that we have now and it's only one percent of the Americans that are that volunteer so you know while America loves war you watch all of the stuff that's on television and the war games they play and all that but when it comes to real fighting real war you see how they have pulled back from that I think. I hope. We hope. But listen Joanne tell us more about what we can expect on August 9th. First of all where is the temple it's such a beautiful absolutely gorgeous temple where is it? Okay they actually have a piece of temple they're located at the New Iwanu it's 2003 New Iwanu Avenue and Reverend Masayama Laura is a humble and Buddhist priest with a very peace making heart and you know I denounce the meaning of a proper singer and that's how we met him as he's signed up in Maria which he will be doing a Buddhist prayer for us and he will also be raising us up in Maria as part of our special program on August 9th this year this year and yes yes yes and so we hope you can join us as you mentioned earlier Dr. Marisa Taurang and we'll be welcoming a precious audience to be with a significant ceremony and we'll be joined by the Interstate clergy that we have the Hontakonganji and we have the Bahay and we have a Christian message from the St. Andrew Cathedral we'll also have we're looking we've invited from the Muslim community we and have peace makers from the United Nations Association we're still looking forward to having people be more aware of these commemorations because it's a part of history and how we can project for the future to normal wars and no more tunnel bombs that's kind of the message we want young people to be engaged in in the future right well we want also as we talk about the bells of Nagasaki and one of the things I'd like to leave with our audience and is that the bells were the Angelus which of course if you're Catholic you understand the bells are wrong three times a day and they were in the cathedral at the time of the bombing the bells were ringing and they were bombed and one bell remained and the story goes that the theory is that the bells should ring every day until the end of time so we tried very hard to ring bells until the end of time or at least our time so tell us tell us Joanne how how can we how can everybody participate it's open to the public and can they call you can they call you absolutely the number yes they can more information we'd be so delighted to hear from you yes my number I'm going to listen to the 808387 7271 okay say it again 808387 808387 7271 come on come on join a peace making celebration thank you I think we have less than a minute left but there's a gentleman that is filming because he's telling the story from Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nagasaki yes we're making a film called Sakura and Pearl and he will be interviewing Nagasaki Kinjin Kai members to and he will also be preparing that film documentary in December I'm guessing around December 7th around the commemoration of Pearl Harbor so thank you for the reminder because he will be there to introduce this part of the documentary film thank you so much Joanne and as always my love to you and thank you audience and we'll see you next time thank you