Pearl Harbor eyewitness and Nagasaki atomic survivor reunite in Japan
A 90-year-old Pearl Harbor witness and an 87-year-old Nagasaki bombing survivor met in Nagasaki, urging personal acts of kindness for peace.
In Nagasaki, Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson, 90, who witnessed the surprise Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor, reunited with Chiyoko Motomura, 87, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing. The two shared an emotional hug at a peace event, recalling their childhood memories of war and praising each other's speeches. Motomura, after delivering a talk marking the 81st anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, highlighted dialogue as essential for mutual understanding, while Nicholson stressed teaching children politeness and respect.
Both agreed that world peace starts with personal kindness and neighborly love. Their encounter illustrates how former adversaries now view each other as allies, underscoring the power of personal connection across historic divides.
Why it matters
The reunion shows how personal reconciliation can symbolize broader peace between former wartime foes.
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