On August 9th, 1945, a sixteen-year-old postman was delivering mail on his bicycle when the atomic bomb exploded over the city of Nagasaki. In his book “The Postman of Nagasaki” published in 1984, Peter Townsend, a former Royal Air Force fighter pilot, describes Sumiteru Taniguchi’s struggle to survive and the terrible consequences he would face. More than thirty years after its publication, Peter’s daughter, Isabelle, was contacted by Mr Taniguchi, the book’s hero.

Motivated to meet him, she decides to travel to Nagasaki. While preparing for her trip to Japan, she discovers audio cassettes dating from 1982 in Peter’s study. She sets off for Nagasaki with recordings in hand. Guided by her father’s voice, she explores the city and, listening to the testimonies of its current inhabitants, becomes aware of the work he had accomplished to raise awareness for peace in the world.

The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to the organisation “Nihon Hidankyo”, of which Sumiteru Taniguchi is one of the founding members, is its happy outcome.

Awarded « Best Film Reflecting War and Aftermath » at the Bridge of Peace International Film Festival

https://www.bridge-of-peace.com/programme08