KAHULUI - Kay Fukumoto, president of Maui Taiko, will talk about the 1945 atomic bombing and radiation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the University of Hawaii Maui College's Pilina Building multipurpose room.
The program, titled "Breaking Atoms-Broken Lives," will also include koto music by Mika Inaba and Koko Walbee, a short performance by Maui Taiko, interfaith prayers for peace, and a dance performance by Akari Ueoka and the Maui Izanai-Yosakoi dancers.
In addition, a class on how to make origami cranes will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants will be able to take home their finished cranes.
Article Photos
Maui Taiko drummers Brian Nagami (facing) and Kirana Soga keep the beat.
Fukumoto was a member of a nine-person team of Maui Taiko drummers who traveled to Eastern Japan in June. The group performed in Iwaki, Miharu, Koriyama and Bandai Atami cities in the Fukushima Prefecture and in Yonezawa city in the Yamagata Prefecture. They were given tours of disaster areas in Minami Soma and Sendai and visited communities of people who are struggling to cope with loss of homes, jobs and community.
Fukumoto will give an eyewitness account of current conditions in Fukushima 17 months after the tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdown.
Refreshments will be served after the program.
The event is sponsored by the UH-Maui College Peace Club and the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration Committee.
For more information, visit www.mauipeace.org.
