Choose Hope Symposium Day 1: Workshops among Stakeholders
Sunday, August 23, 2025
Cosmos Room, B2 Floor, International Conference Center Hiroshima
Report by Erika Kokor
On August 23, 2025, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) convened the first day of the Choose Hope Symposium in Hiroshima, Japan. Modeled after the vision of NAPF founder David Krieger and his lifelong friend, former SGI president Daisaku Ikeda, the symposium takes its name and spirit from their joint book Choose Hope. Both leaders dedicated their lives to the pursuit of peace and a world free from nuclear weapons, and their legacies inspired the work of this gathering. Following the first half of the symposium held in Santa Barbara, CA in March 2025, the Hiroshima program focused on developing action plans in response to questions raised earlier in the year. Youth were at the center of this effort—leading, facilitating, and shaping the discussions that defined the day.
Day 1 of the Symposium consisted of closed workshop discussions about the future of disarmament.
Discussion 1: Deterrence to Disarmament
Facilitated by Chie Sunada, Director of Disarmament and Human Rights at SGI, this discussion tackled the urgent need to shift global conversations away from deterrence toward disarmament. Sunada emphasized that deterrence is “not international law, but political fiction.” Participants reflected on the fragility of a system built on irrationality, noting, “Human beings do not make rational decisions.” By naming deterrence for what it is, youth participants began charting a path toward new, reality-based frameworks for peace.
Discussion 2: Nuclear Legacy – A Call for Justice
Christian Ciobanu of NAPF opened with remarks on the International Trust Fund and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), stressing the responsibility of “user states” and the importance of rigorous research as foundations for nuclear justice. Youth voices in this session amplified the need to carry forward the testimonies of hibakusha and to listen to the experiences of those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki who continue to live with the nuclear legacy. As Christian urged, we must “amplify voices of peace” to dismantle artificial borders and ensure justice for all those impacted by nuclear harm.
Discussion 3: The Role of Art in Bringing About Change
Mr. Tanaka, a second-generation hibakusha, shared his collaborative art exhibitions with Betsie Miller-Kusz, daughter of a Manhattan Project scientist. Their work merges Tanaka’s landscapes with Kusz’s mystic drawings into a shared call for peace. Breakout groups explored how artistic initiatives—competitions, exhibitions, and education—can spark awareness and inspire action. In an especially moving moment, participants learned to fold paper cranes, continuing Sadako Sasaki’s legacy of inscribing peace on their wings and sending them out into the world.
Discussion 4: The Intersection of Climate and Nuclear Activism and the Role of Youth
Led by Kenneth Chiu (NAPF Communications Coordinator) and Miyuki Horiguchi (SGI Program Coordinator for Disarmament and Peace), this session highlighted the intersections between two existential threats: climate change and nuclear weapons. Participants discussed ideas, actions, and challenges for bridging these movements, with youth voices at the forefront. One theme resonated strongly: both issues are often dismissed as “abstract” or “un-seeable,” yet their consequences define the future. As one young participant declared, “We demand the right to life.” The message was clear—the leadership of youth is essential in building a peaceful, sustainable world.
