Dear Ivan,

I’m sorry to say that I don’t know much about Nagasaki. I’ve visited Hiroshima and its Peace Memorial Museum twice, but never been to Nagasaki in my life. Simply because Nagasaki is further away from here, I suppose. But the two cities are equally present in my thoughts especially in August each year.

Hopefully these documents will help you understand what happened in Nagasaki in that August of 1945 and after that.

Testimonies of the Atomic Bombs Survivors:
http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/peace…(1)
http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/peace…(2)
http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/peace…(3)

Those people know what a weapon of mass destruction is truly like. Nowhere in the world is quite safe these days; too many nuclear weapons have been spread, and who knows that you’ll never suffer from one? I think it’s ironic that the country who first created and used atomic bombs is now in great danger of getting one dropped on themselves. I’m praying it won’t happen, because children and innocent people never deserve to be put into a hell by human hands. You see, weapons of mass destruction won’t make you win in the long term. No place should suffer like Hiroshima and Nagasaki again…

Oh Ivan, I should be going to pick up Kamegoro from the beach. Tell everyone I said hello!

Your friend,
Mariko

Nagasaki, Japan (1945)
Photo originally uploaded by Wikimedia Commons

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Dear Ivan,

Thank you for the postcards from Neum! I’m sorry it took us a while to write back. We were both excited to receive them from you. Aquamail is nice, you know, but it’s great to get airmails as well! Your postage stamps look so pretty.

Today is August 6, the day the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima 62 years ago. Have you seen this famous photograph? It was taken by Yoshito Matsushige. I saw him on a TV show years ago, talking about his pictures. He said that the things hanging down from people’s arms were not their clothes but actually their burnt skin melting off. Lots of people were walking with their arms held in front of them. I suppose it would be too painful otherwise…

My cousins and I are going to a store now to buy some ice cream. It’s so hot today! Write back soon and tell us more about Neum.

Your friend in sweat,
Mariko

suffering
Photo originally uploaded by monkeyc.net.

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Hello Ivan,

We are so relieved to hear Ryota is there with you. He seems to like living there a lot.

Tonight we have the Japanese animation film “Castle in the Sky” on TV. Have you ever seen it? We’ve heard that the director Hayao Miyazaki’s next film will be about a goldfish princess. I can’t wait to see it! How are your fish doing?

Kamegoro’s princess,
Mariko

The Incredibles?
Photo originally uploaded by VisualAge.

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Dear Ivan,

I don’t know exactly why he is traveling to Croatia, but it seems that Kamegoro somehow made him interested in the place. He probably told Ryota how beautiful the Adriatic Sea looked. I’d love to swim in it, too!

Your friend,
Mariko

girls_in_adriatic
Photo originally uploaded by tangent.

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Hello Ivan,

I went to the city library last Saturday and borrowed several books on Croatia with very nice photos. No wonder Ryota wants to visit there so much.

Oh, I’ve almost forgot to tell you about him! Kamegoro’s friend, Penguin Ryota, is heading to Croatia right now. He left Antarctica in February or March for the Adriatic Sea. I know it has been his dream to swim in it. What a brave guy (I mean, penguin)!

I miss hearing from you.

Your friend,
Mariko

Makarska Riviera
Photo originally uploaded by acastellano.

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Dear Ivan,I’m sorry it took me so long to write back! How are you? Kamegoro and I have been doing well.

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your uncles and grandfather because of the war. Having lived through such hard times is beyond my imagination. My grandfather was taken to the war during the World War II, but he fell sick there and was sent back home before the war got worse.

I’ve been to Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum is really a must to see. I was extremely shocked and speechless to see the objects and pictures displayed there. I want to take you there someday.

This is the official homepage of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Make sure to visit the virtual museum in it. It’s very good. I feel I should study more about the history.

http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.html

Your friend,
Mariko

P.S. You forgot to write about your sisters’ names and ages!

STA_2398
Photo originally uploaded by colinsummercho.

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Dear Ivan,

I love Aquamail! Some of Kamegoro’s relatives work for it, but I had never actually tried it before. I never knew a lot of birds worked for it too. After the turtles reach their destination, they pass the mails to the birds, who will deliver them to people’s houses. I guess turtles are too slow to walk on the land.

You are so lucky to have two sisters! I always wanted one. I have only one brother and no sisters. He is two years older than I and lives with my parents in Kawagoe in Saitama. He is planning to move out again, because it takes him about an hour to get to his college in Tokyo by train. His name is Toshiyuki. What are the names of your sisters? How old are they?

“Dubrovačke ljetne igre” sounds like fun! I will study Croatian hard and someday I want to see the outside theatre plays there. You wrote you moved to Dubrovnik after the war… When was it? Were you and all your family okay?

Keep cool!

Your friend,
Mariko

P.S.
This is from Kamegoro:
Hi, Ivan-kun! It’s me Kamegoro. Mariko-chan and I love receiving your letters. I want to know if you have any animal friends!

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Dear Ivan,

Thank you for the reply, Ivan! I was so excited when a little Aquamail delivery bird showed up at my place and dropped your letter. Yes, it’s very hot in Japan, too, but now I live in Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan, so it is not so bad as big cities like Tokyo where I grew up. In Tokyo, you can’t really survive a summer without air conditioners.

Your hometown Dubrovnik looks beautiful! Did you grow up there? Who do you live with? Kamegoro and I are living on the second floor at my aunt’s big house. I often hang out with my cousins. Last night we went to see the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”. I liked it a lot. Have you seen it yet?

I can’t wait to hear from you again!

Your happy friend,
Mariko

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Dragi Ivane,

Zdravo! Kako si? Moje ime je Mariko. Ja sam Japanka. Imam 18 godina. Ti živiš u Hrvatskoj!? Odlično! Ja živim u Hokkaidu u Japanu i govorim japanski. Ali razumijem engleski. A ti? Da li govoriš engleski?

Let me switch to English for now! I really don’t understand Croatian so much, but I started to learn it as soon as I found your letter in the bottle. I’d love to know more about you. I enjoy learning your language, and it would be wonderful if you could help me with it. Moja adresa je:

26 Umibe, Otogi-cho
Nagareboshi-gun
Hokkaido
JAPAN

Tvoja prijateljica,
Mariko

P.S. My friend Kamegoro says zdravo to you. (He is my turtle…a funny guy!) We can hardly wait to hear from you. Please write back soon!

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