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Mitchie Takeuchi

Board Member

Mitchie Takeuchi was raised in Hiroshima and is a longtime New York City resident. Her mother, Takako Takeuchi, and grandfather, Dr. Ken Takeuchi—founding director of the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital—survived the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. Dr. Takeuchi treated victims and oversaw the hospital’s rebuilding from 1945 to 1948.

As a teenager, Mitchie volunteered at the World Friendship Center, a peace community center founded by Barbara Reynolds and Dr. Tomin Harada. Reynolds and her husband, Dr. Earl Reynolds, famously sailed their yacht, Phoenix of Hiroshima, into the Bikini Atoll nuclear test zone in 1958 to protest nuclear testing. Dr. Harada led the “Hiroshima Maiden” project with Norman Cousins, facilitating treatment for disfigured survivors at Mount Sinai Hospital. During her time at the center, Mitchie played a key role in launching a book translation program with director Leona Row, culminating in the publication of Unforgettable Fire: Drawings by Atomic Bomb Survivors, an anti-nuclear classic.

Decades later, Mitchie created and produced The Vow From Hiroshima, a documentary about Hiroshima survivor and activist Setsuko Thurlow, intergenerational friendship, and the global movement to ban nuclear weapons. Endorsed by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, the film is recommended for youth worldwide.

Mitchie is dedicated to sharing the legacies of Setsuko Thurlow and Dr. Ken Takeuchi, advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

What I love about the Nuclear Truth Project

“The Nuclear Truth Project is a unique and inclusive community where people from diverse historical, cultural, and personal backgrounds unite with a shared goal: the abolition of nuclear weapons. Whether from Indigenous and First Nations, affected communities, or as activists and academics, we come together with thoughtfulness, a willingness to listen, and a spirit of mutual learning.

This shared kindness and connection enriches our collective knowledge, making it deeply valuable. I also love the beautiful artwork the Nuclear Truth Project creates— it conveys the joy of life that we all strive for. After each web call, I find myself imagining the beautiful and varied landscapes we all call home.”