Survivor of Hiroshima
Ieshima tells his story at Mugstock
A survivor of the devastating Hiroshima bombing in Japan will address crowds at Mugstock Festival tonight (Friday).
Ieshima Masashi was a toddler, playing inside his house less than two kilometres from the blast centre, when the bomb went off on August 6, 1945.
And he will bring a message of peace to the festival stage at Mugdock Country Park this weekend as he speaks about his experiences during and after the devastating bombing.
During the final stages of World War Two the United States detonated two nuclear weapons over Hiroshima and Nagasaki – killing around 129,000 people.
Mr Masashi was born in 1942 in Hiroshima City and says he has just “fragmented memories” of the events of August three years later.
In his speech he will talk about his family’s narrow escape, his recollection of the aftermath of the events and how their home was devastated by the blast.
He will also highlight the lasting affect the bomb has had on the area, and Japan as a country, and how he himself has suffered from poor health as a direct result of the radiation.
He will add that nuclear weapons today are said to have 1000 times more destructive power than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki type bombs, and human beings would be annihilated if nuclear war was to break out.
After leaving university Mr Masashi decided to dedicate his life to the work of abolishing nuclear weapons and sharing his experience with younger people.
Once he has addressed crowds at Mugstock, festival-goers will form a human peace logo which is hoped to be the biggest one ever made in Scotland.
During his trip to Scotland he will also take part in the Youth Pace Academy at the University of Strathclyde Students’ Association in Glasgow.
Alan Govan from the Mugstock Festival said: “We look forward to inviting Mugstock’s audience to join us in a positive statement which sets the scene for what should be a fantastic weekend.”
Mugstock Festival will run until Sunday with more than 150 acts gracing the festival’s seven stages across the weekend.
Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 are among the headliners while well-known acts The Girobabies, Kid Canaveral and Roddy Woomble are also set to entertain crowds.
A host of performers – including indie, folk, reggae, pop, soul and dub acts – will feature in a packed weekend.
In addition there will be other entertainment in the form of theatre, art, comedy and crafts along with food and drink.