Hiroshima's Atomic-Bomb Pianos Play a New Song for Peace

A piano tuner from Hiroshima is using the unlikely survivors of the atomic bomb—musical instruments—to spread a message of peace. For decades, Mitsunori Yagawa has traveled across Japan and abroad. He does not carry just his tools. He brings pianos that endured the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. These instruments, scarred by the blast and heat, have been carefully restored. Yagawa says they now have a new purpose: to speak where words fail. Nearly 80 years after the war, he has found a powerful partner. American pianist William Menefield has joined the mission. Together, they perform concerts on these historic pianos. Yagawa calls their work "planting the seeds of peace." He believes the music from these pianos can bridge deep historical divides. Each performance tells a story of destruction, but also of survival and hope. The duo’s collaboration shows a shared desire to look forward. They use the universal language of music to foster reconciliation and a future free of nuclear weapons.