The first visit to Hiroshima by a sitting United States President was realized by President Barack Obama in May 2016. In his speech President Obama spoke unequivocally of his desire to “eliminate nuclear weapons.” That event could be described as a remarkable achievement that was a first in the 71 years since the end of World War II.

At that time, I had begun working on the Hiroshima Appeals peace poster and had been striving to express the tragedy of atomic bombs symbolically. However, the mindset I had had up to then underwent a major change when I witnessed the efforts of the people of Hiroshima that formed the backdrop to President Obama’s visit, and their hopes for peace. Rather than adopting a confrontational axis of stating a complaint and evoking an apology, this work is an expression centered on a desire for a deep, still and powerful peace, in the form of forgiveness, reconciliation and joint prayer.

My constant wish is that works of graphic design will become part of the landscape in cities and lifestyles. I think it would be ideal, in other words, if my inner feelings were accepted and existed as a landscape.

For the Hiroshima Appeals 2016, I gave form to my powerful aspirations and wishes for peace. My prayers have been given form. If empathy is generated as a result of that I am sure it will become a powerful message. My hope is that it will create a landscape of prayer.