Ep 118: Influential Origins with Alan Mindel and guest Mitchie Takeuchi P2 on hmTv

 In Episode 118 of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel continues his insightful conversation with Mitchie Takeuchi, filmmaker and second-generation Hibakusha. Mitchie shares her transformative journey, from initially feeling hesitant about embracing her identity to becoming a passionate advocate who brought Setsuko Thurlow’s powerful story—of surviving Hiroshima's atomic bombing and advocating for peace—to global audiences. Together, they explore themes of breaking silence, confronting generational trauma, and the importance of storytelling in fostering mutual understanding and peace. Mitchie also discusses her ongoing efforts to connect with younger generations through multimedia adaptations of her acclaimed documentary, The Vow from Hiroshima. 

Transcript

Influential Origins, Episode 118 Transcript

Alan Mindel: Welcome to Influential Origins. My name is Alan Mindel, and we're going to continue our conversation with Mitchie Takeuchi about Setsuko and your journey. So, there you are in America in 2010, accomplished in business, working in psychology, and you're asked to translate. Tell us about meeting Setsuko.

Mitchie Takeuchi: It felt like an accident at first, now almost destiny. I was contacted by Youth Arts New York, an educational NPO hosting a program called Hibakusha Stories, inviting survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki to speak to New York high schools. They needed a volunteer interpreter at the last minute.

Alan: So you meet Setsuko, hear her dramatic story—13 years old, surviving the atomic bomb, her classmates burning alive as she climbed out.

Mitchie: Exactly. I attended the same girls' school, so when I heard her testimony, we instantly connected.

Alan: Setsuko wasn’t living in Japan; she'd moved to Canada with her husband and became a social worker, right?

Mitchie: Yes, she was socially conscious from a young age. By 1985, she had organized the first Hiroshima-Nagasaki exhibition in Toronto, showcasing survivors' drawings and photographs, revealing the true horrors of nuclear warfare.

Alan: She wanted the world to understand.

Mitchie: Precisely. Setsuko was articulate and passionate, making her story resonate powerfully everywhere she spoke.

Alan: Your own identity as second-generation Hibakusha wasn't something you initially embraced, was it?

Mitchie: Right. Initially, it felt awkward because my family had remained silent about it, fearing discrimination, even in marriage and employment.

Alan: And yet Setsuko helped you confront this silence?

Mitchie: Exactly. She and others broke the silence, dispelling myths about radiation and encouraging open discussion.

Alan: What sparked your own journey to tell these stories?

Mitchie: At first, I hesitated, feeling it wasn't my story. But friends reminded me it’s our shared story, essential to remember and share for future generations.

Alan: So you made the documentary "The Vow from Hiroshima," narrating Setsuko's incredible journey—from survival to winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mitchie: Yes, it's crucial to educate and inspire through her powerful story.

Alan: Did making the documentary help you understand your mother better?

Mitchie: Deeply. Her silence was a way of protecting us from the past and potential stigma. I regret not having encouraged her to share more.

Alan: Yet, spending her final four months together, wasn’t that your way of truly honoring her?

Mitchie: Absolutely. It became the most intimate, meaningful time we ever shared.

Alan: Tell me about your current projects.

Mitchie: I'm working on subtitles for the film in multiple languages and adapting it into a graphic novel for teenagers, aiming to resonate deeply with younger audiences.

Alan: What lessons do you hope future generations learn from these stories?

Mitchie: That openness, curiosity, and dialogue are essential. Mutual understanding can transform society positively. Listening deeply to each other’s stories is how we achieve true peace.

Alan: Beautifully said. Mitchie, your work is profoundly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey today.

Mitchie: Thank you, Alan. It's been an honor and privilege.

Alan: Everyone, you can watch "The Vow from Hiroshima" on PBS.org for the next two and a half years. Thank you, Mitchie, and thank you all for listening.