MR. Yamawaki is a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. He was 11 years old and was at his home about 2.2. km away from the hypocenter when the bomb fell on Nagasaki City. Over the past decades, he has traveled not only across Japan but also around the world to share his personal account of the tragedy and a persistent message to advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons around the world. In 2010, Mr. Yamawaki was appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons.

Dr. Higo is a Professor at the International Student Center at Kyushu University. As an international sociologist, he serves as the primary coordinator of Japan In Today’s World (JTW), a year-long study program for international students, which introduces the participants to the culture, society, and history of contemporary Japan as part of an ever-changing global society. In this role, since 2014 he has contributed to organizing and facilitating the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing Survivor Symposium at Kyushu University's main campus.

Dr. Guo is a Professor at the International Student Center at Kyushu University and currently serves as the Center’s Deputy Director. As an applied linguist, he leads the Japanese Language and Culture Course (JLCC), a year-long study program designed to advance participants’ understanding of Japanese culture along with their proficiency in the Japanese language. Together with Dr. Higo, Dr. Guo has for many years organized the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing Survivor Symposium at Kyushu University's main campus.

Thank you for visiting the website of the Kyushu University Peace Symposium. It has been our honor at Kyushu University’s International Student Center to organize this global online event to commemorate the 75th year since the Nagasaki atomic bombing.

We are greatly honored to welcome Mr. Yoshiro Yamawaki, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and a passionate peace activist, as the main speaker for this symposium. His decades-long effort to call for a nuclear-weapon-free world has contributed to bringing the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty to its implementation on January 22nd, 2021, just the day before this symposium.

This symposium will offer you an invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: you will be connected in real time with participants around the world, learn about the history directly from Mr. Yamawaki, and grow as a further informed and more responsible global citizen to bring peace, safety, and harmony not only to your generation but also those to come.

Let me strongly encourage you to participate in the symposium – this could be a life-changing moment for you.

Professor, Dr. Toshiyuki Kono

Director, International Student Center
Executive Vice President
Distinguished Professor, School of Law
Kyushu University