We’ve always embraced our Japanese culture, from devouring fresh manju and preparing mochi on New Year’s Eve, to attending obon dances (to remember our ancestors), and even learning the Japanese language (which I’m terrible at by the way).
America is the country I was born and raised in, where I grew up learning to respect and appreciate my Japanese heritage, where I was told to be proud of both my Japanese and American identities
Everywhere I went, “peace” was mentioned whether it was the name of a park, shared on a souvenir (literally every souvenir had “peace”), or commemorated with memorials.
Within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park were: the Clock Tower of Peace, Children’s Peace Monument, National Peace Memorial Hall, the Flame of Peace, the Pond of Peace, and Gates of Peace.