Invitation to a special meeting with Kunihiko Sakuma on May 22, 2025 – at the Berlin office of the International Peace Bureau (IPB) or online.
On May 22, 2025, the International Peace Bureau (IPB), together with ICAN Germany and the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Gensuikyo), invites you to a very special event in Berlin. The evening will feature Mr. Kunihiko Sakuma, survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and Chairperson of Hiroshima Hidankyo – the organization of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).
Mr. Sakuma is part of a living legacy of resilience, courage, and moral clarity. At just nine months old, he was exposed to the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima in August 1945. Although he was too young to remember the moment, he has lived his entire life in the shadow of that unimaginable violence—grappling with the physical, emotional, and social consequences of being a hibakusha.
At a time when the threat of nuclear war feels closer than ever, his voice—along with that of thousands of other survivors—is a light in the darkness. His testimony is a plea for humanity to remember, to reflect, and to act.
This event takes place ahead of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It also honors the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo – a historic recognition of the hibakusha’s decades-long struggle for a world free of nuclear weapons.
“A light in the darkest night” – as Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes put it, the hibakusha’s testimonies are not merely personal stories but profound warnings to all of humanity.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM (Doors open at 6:15 PM)
Location: IPB Office, Marienstr. 19–20, 10117 Berlin & via Zoom
Language: English
Attendance: In-person or online
Free admission, registration requested:
Register for in-person attendance | Register for Zoom attendance
Light refreshments will be provided.
Program Highlights
Welcome by the organizers
Keynote speech by Mr. Kunihiko Sakuma
Contributions from national and international disarmament organizations:
Gensuikyo
International Peace Bureau (IPB)
ICAN Germany
IPPNW Germany (tbc)
Audience Q&A
Informal reception
This event is part of a global movement for nuclear disarmament and a strong gesture of solidarity with the hibakusha. Over 2,000 people have already signed ICAN Germany Open Letter calling on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to invite hibakusha to Berlin in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombings.
Join us in listening, remembering, and taking action.
