“I was saved by a miracle.
And it was a miracle too, that I could find my mother and my friends.
I was miraculously allowed to live.”
-Mr. Tsukasa Watanabe, September 2008
I received the sad news, Mr. Tsukasa Watanabe, an atomic bomb survivor that I photographed on my first trip to Nagasaki, has passed away at the age of 79. The last time I saw Mr. Watanabe was at the Nagasaki Peace Museum when From Above was exhibited in July 2010. He had been in and out of the hospital but was still in good spirits. His wife accompanied him to the exhibition to see the other hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) portraits.
Like all the other atomic bomb survivors I have photographed, Mr. Watanabe was committed to telling the world about the importance of eliminating nuclear weapons. The compassion he demonstrated while speaking about life immediately jolted me.
He had a unique way of telling his story. He performed a one-man play about surviving the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and rescuing his mother under the debris of their destroyed home. During the last 14 years of his life Mr. Watanabe performed this play more than 100 times to audiences ranging from school children to adults.
The portrait I took of him in the courtyard of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is a photograph that makes me feel there is hope. Mr. Watanabe’s expression immediately draws me into the image along with the mosaic background.
It was an honor to have known Mr. Watanabe. I miss him. I will always admire his sense of compassion and optimism. His voice is now silent. But I hope through this portrait his spirit will be everlasting.
Mr. Watanabe appears in this documentary about From Above, 7 minutes and 40 seconds into the video.