Takashi Tanemori
Takashi Tanemori is a survivor of the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which claimed his parents and two siblings. In the ashes of postwar Japan, he became a street urchin, bound by oath to avenge his father’s death. After eight angry years living in dishonor and despair, including attempting suicide, Mr. Tanemori came to the United States at the age of 18. Here, he suffered from cruelty working in California’s “salad bowl” and as a captive patient in the state’s psychiatric system.
After a nurse became Takashi’s guardian, inspiring him to serve others through Christianity, Takashi became a Christian minister, a restaurateur, and a California farming representative to the Far East, before becoming an advocate of peace through fostering forgiveness. Tanemori-san believes that instead of resorting to violence, war, or endless cycles of revenge, humankind must learn to forgive, to reconcile, and to make peace with those we might call enemies, whoever they are. Victory over conflict hinges upon the individual, who must conquer the raging war in his or her own heart. One by one, “heartbeat by individual heartbeat,” accomplishing this inner transformation is much more powerful than any atomic weapon or other violent means in shifting the world toward peace. Today, Tanemori-san’s goal is to help future generations live in harmony and equality. Takashi is in his 70s and resides with his guide dog, Yuki, in Berkeley, California. He shares his life story through speaking events, conflict resolution seminars, workshops on The Seven Codes of the Samurai, and his artwork and writing, including his book Hiroshima: Bridge to Forgiveness. July 12, 2012 |
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