by Elizabeth V. Hallett

Life is always full of paradox but never more so than now, as we anxiously listen to the news about the war in Ukraine and the damage to the Zaporihziha nuclear plant there, and recall Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disasters. Last Saturday Peace House, One Sunny Day Initiatives (OSDI) and the Japanese American Association of Southern Oregon joined together to dedicate the Hiroshima Camellia, germinated from a survivor of the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.
 
Medford resident and honored Hiroshima survivor, Hideko Tamura Snider, was present for the elaborate event. Featured performers include Elbow Room Taiko Drummers, the Ashland Peace Choir and a Mindful Matcha Tea Meditation by Southern Oregon Japanese Association in the Japanese Garden after the dedication and ceremonial watering of the Camellia.

Hideko Tamura Snider, (affectionately known as Hideko) founder of OSDI in 2006, first brought the idea of growing and planting the seeds from the resilient trees which stubbornly insisted upon growing into new life after being burned by the Atomic Bomb.

Enjoy this gallery of images of Saturday’s event. All photos by Allen Hallmark unless otherwise noted.

Without Hideko’s vision we would not have seen this special event take shape. Without her passionate desire to prevent the detonation of another nuclear bomb and the devastation that she herself experienced on August 6, 1945, we would not be celebrating the life of newly seeded trees that emerged resilient from the fires of the Bomb.

As Hideko Tamura Snider said in a statement:

Having survived the Hiroshima bombing, I have dedicated my life to the promotion of peace. One of the projects that has been closest to my heart is working with Green Legacy Hiroshima in Japan. They gifted our organization with precious Ginkgo, Persimmon, Camphor and Camellia seeds from trees and shrubs which miraculously survived the atomic bombing in 1945. 

The OSDI Board Members and I are filled with joy by your interest and support for this
Hiroshima Peace Camellia to be with you and in your community. We are with you in spirit today as you dedicate this tree, and always, treasuring affirmation of life and peace in the world.

Featured speaker Elizabeth Hallett addressed the crowd, saying, “In English, the camellia is thought to symbolize romantic love, devotion and loyalty. In Japanese, a camellia is called Tsubaki means “humility” or “assistant to the priest. For samurai warriors it signifies loyalty and honorable death.” 
 
“I believe Hideko is a warrior for peace,” Hallett continued. “I can recall a conversation she and I had in which she described an avenue in Hiroshima that was lined with Buddhist Temples and how her father was in charge of the main one. The bombing obliterated the entire avenue. It was an illustration of how the decimation unraveled the spiritual life of the entire community.”

Hideko was interviewed for the upcoming movie called “Oppenheimer” about the creation of The Bomb and Peace House is working to screen the film at the Varsity Theater in Ashland. It is a significant cinematic work for which Hideko worked as a high value witness to the bombing in Hiroshima.

Mayor Tanya Graham spoke to the history of Ashland as a Mayors for Peace City and included information about local history. 

The City of Ashland was declared a nuclear free zone in 1982, initiated by the founding members of Peace House. Each year, there has been a reading of a Mayoral Proclamation in remembrance of what the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki suffered in 1945.

After 40 years, Mayors for Peace now boasts 8,256 member cities, spanning 166 countries and regions that have joined in the worldwide campaign. Peace House is working now to see if more Oregon cities will join.