 Events held commemorating 60th anniversary of Tokyo air raid On March 5, about 520 people took part in a gathering at a public hall in Tokyo's Koto Ward and listened to survivors of the 1945 Tokyo air raid talk about their experiences. The event was organized by the Center of the Tokyo Air Raid and War Damages, headed by writer Saotome Katsumoto who is leading the effort to collect materials and data for the Tokyo air raid. It was aimed at providing young generations with an opportunity to learn about the indiscriminate bombing that U.S. forces carried out on March 10, 1945, destroying a working-class district of Tokyo and killing about 100,000 people. Takagi Toshiko, author of "Glass Rabbit," a story of a girl who survived the bombing, spoke about her experience of losing her family members. To young participants she said, "When you will be able to exercise your right to vote, please make sure that you never vote for pro-war politicians." An exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the Tokyo air raid was held in Tokyo. It included art works created by air-raid survivors, their letters, photos of victims, videotaped messages from actresses and athletes, and testimonies of air-raid survivors. (end) |