Hibakusha Mori Wants U.S. to Use Its Capabilities for Peace

New York, May 31 (Jiji Press)--Shigeaki Mori, who survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, said Thursday that he wants the United States to use its capabilities for world peace. The 81-year-old Japanese, a hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivor, and historian, attended a screening of "Paper Lanterns," a documentary film on his life's work. The event was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York. Mori has spent some 40 years researching 12 U.S. prisoners of war, all troops, who died due to the atomic bombing of the western Japan city on Aug. 6, 1945, in the closing days of World War II. In a question-and-answer session following the screening, Mori referred to the U.S. atomic bomb development project during the war. While noting that the capabilities of the United States and its people are great, Mori said he does not want them to be used to kill people. Mori stressed that he hopes the U.S. capabilities will be utilized to realize peace. The screening event was joined by over 100 people, including Koro Bessho, Japan's ambassador to the United Nations, and members of the public. END