Koko Tanimoto Kondo is the youngest living survivor of Hiroshima. I met her at age 12 when my mom brought a children’s peace delegation there to raise global awareness about the consequences of nuclear war. Mom and Koko became as close as sisters and traveled around the world many times to promote peace. Koko, like my late mother, is a deeply joyful person, as you can see in these photos. She is now the strongest remaining link to my mother’s life’s work—so I was overjoyed to be able to see her on Tuesday in New York.
It’s also significant timing as I’ve spent years working on a film about another tragedy, 9/11, which, inspired by my mom and Koko, is an entirely hopeful portrayal of human beings on that day and beyond. In that spirit, this is what the World Trade Center’s Japanese American architect, Minoru Yamasaki, had to say when the towers were dedicated on April 4, 1973:
The World Trade Center is a living symbol of man’s dedication to world peace... Beyond the compelling need to make this a monument to world peace, the World Trade Center should…become a representation of man’s belief in humanity, his need for individual dignity, his belief in the cooperation of men, and through this cooperation, his ability to find greatness.
#kokokondo #minoruyamasaki #patmontandon
Thrilled to reconnect with one of my favorite people on the planet Koko Kondo. Atom bomb survivor and nuclear weapons activist. Almost 10 years since our awards in Hiroshima. Koko reminded me that she has three Disruptor Awards Hammer: New York, Hiroshima and also a distinguish Disruptor Foundation honoree.
