Help us bring the voices of peace to Australia

Help us bring the voices of peace to Australia

In August 2025, we have a rare opportunity to bring the voices of the hibakusha – survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan – to Sydney. Their stories of resilience, forgiveness and hope carry a vital message for our world today: retaliation will not bring peace.

With your support, we can amplify their voices, preserve their legacy and inspire action towards a peaceful, nuclear-free future.

Introducing: Passing the Baton

Hi, I’m Haruka Shinno.

I’m raising funds to bring an event close to my heart to Sydney in August 2025, titled Passing the Baton – an event to mark 80 years since the end of the Asia-Pacific War. This event will offer Australians a rare and transformative opportunity to hear directly from the hibakusha.

Their stories are not just accounts of unimaginable suffering – they are powerful testaments to resilience, forgiveness and hope. Their message transcends time and borders:“Retaliation will not bring peace.”

Why this matters now

Time is running out. Many hibakusha are elderly, and we are at risk of losing their firsthand accounts forever. Yet, their message has never been more urgent. In a world still grappling with conflict, division, and the ever-present threat of nuclear weapons, their stories remind us that peace is not just a dream—it’s a choice we must make every day.

This event is more than a commemoration—it’s a call to action.

Through Passing the Baton, we will:

Bring their voices to Sydney, giving Australians an unforgettable opportunity to connect with history and humanity.

Foster understanding, with live storytelling, Q&A sessions, and educational resources to inspire dialogue and action.

Preserve their legacy, ensuring their testimonies and the lessons of history resonate for generations to come.

How your support helps

Your generosity will allow us to bring hibakusha to Australia.

Breakdown of Costs:

Venue & Setup – $3,680

Auditorium rental, AV staff, WiFi, and additional furniture.

Outreach & Awareness – $1,700

Promotional efforts, printed materials, and banners to spread the message.

Travel & Accommodation – $10,700

Guest speaker ( business class flights due to her health condition) and assistant’s flights. Airport transfers and accommodation.

Honourariums, Stipends & Support Services – $3,350

Guest speaker’s honourarium. Interpretation and translation services to ensure accessibility. Volunteer support, including meals, refreshments, and a token of appreciation for their dedication.

Transparency & Accountability

We are actively seeking corporate sponsorships and partnerships, which may cover some of these costs. If that happens, we commit to ensuring all funds raised through this campaign are fully utilised for this initiative.This event is powered by passion, not profit. I, Haruka Shinno, along with several others, am volunteering 100% of my time to bring this initiative to life.

Together, we can make a difference

The hibakusha teaches us that even the deepest wounds can lead to profound healing and change. By supporting Passing the Baton, you are helping amplify their voices and ensuring their courageous message inspires action for a peaceful, united future.

Your contribution will honour their bravery, preserve their legacy, and pass on the baton of peace to future generations.

Please be part of this movement and contribute today to help bring these vital stories to Sydney and beyond.

Together, we can create a world where understanding triumphs over division and peace is not just a hope, but a reality.

Let’s pass the baton of peace—because the future depends on what we do today.

We thank you for your support and hope to see you at the event.

This event will be organised by Japan Club of Sydney and I am pleased to be the Coordinator in charge of this event.

About Japan Club of Sydney (JCS)

Founded in 1983, JCS is a non-profit, volunteer-run organisation fostering Japanese culture and community in NSW. With 350+ member families, JCS promotes cultural exchange, friendship, and Japanese language education while maintaining neutrality in religion and politics. Open to all who share its values, JCS strengthens connections beyond ethnicity.

About the Coordinator

I am Haruka Shinno.

My journey began back in university when I was involved in a volunteer project where I had the opportunity to interview hibakusha—survivors of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima—and help translate some of their testimonials into English for peace memorial museum websites. Although my role was small, listening to their stories firsthand was both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring. Despite everything they endured, many of them said, “Retaliation doesn’t bring peace.” Instead, they chose forgiveness and turned their pain into a powerful movement for a nuclear-free world.Those experiences stayed with me until today. I’ve always felt it’s my responsibility to share their voices so they’re never forgotten.That’s why this year, I’m coordinating this event organised by Japan Club of Sydney in Sydney to honour their legacy.

It is about remembering what happened, understanding its significance today, and passing those lessons of peace to the next generation.

主催団体：Japan Club of Sydney

シドニー日本クラブ（JCS）は、1983年創立の非営利団体。

日本クラブはボランティアによって運営され、日系家族間の親睦、日本文化の継承、在住他民族との相互理解の向上、そしてオーストラリア社会に貢献することを目的として、様々な懇親活動や広報活動、文化教育活動を行っています。

今年終戦から80年の節目に、シドニーの日系団体として、また唯一の被爆国として、被爆者の声を届けるためイベントを主催いたします。

本イベントの企画担当

はじめまして。JCSの企画担当をしております新野令賀です。

学生時代に、広島・長崎の被爆者の証言を他言語化するボランティアに携わっており、平和記念資料館の証言映像の翻訳や英語字幕をつける活動をしておりました。その活動を通じて、外国語を学ぶ一人の日本人として、被爆者の証言を世界に届ける責任と使命感を強く感じてきました。

昨年のノーベル平和賞が「日本被団協」に授与された嬉しいニュースが飛び込んできた一方で、核兵器の脅威が増す国際社会において、今一度「被爆者の証言」を世界に届けることが急務であると感じています。このような背景があり、戦後80周年を迎える今年、私の居住国のオーストラリアでも原爆の実相と被爆者の「生の証言」を次世代へ伝承する機会を提供するため、イベントの企画に踏み切ることに致しました。

現在、多くの関係者にお力添えをいただき、小倉桂子様（88歳）のご予定を確保し、シドニーでの対面講演の実現に向けてクラウドファンディングを実施しました。

小倉様は英語で証言が可能な数少ない被爆者の一人で、G7広島サミットでは各国首脳に直接証言を行い、昨年は日本被団協のオスロで開催されたノーベル平和賞フォーラムにもゲストスピーカーとしてご登壇されるなど、その活動は国際的にも認知されています。

オーストラリアでは、被爆者の証言に触れる機会は極めて少なく、核兵器の実態について十分に理解されていない現状があります。

小倉様の「生の証言」を聞く機会は、日豪の次世代を担う子供達にとっても貴重な平和教育の場となり、核兵器廃絶を目指す国際的な取り組みにも大変意義深いものになると確信しております。

実現に向けて皆様の温かいご支援をよろしくお願いいたします。

最後に、本プロジェクトの実現に向けて、多方面でサポート頂いております関係者の皆様に心より御礼申し上げます。

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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Passing the Baton will take place, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present, and emerging, and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters, and culture.

Photo Credit: Alfred Terouz