Akiko's Piano
This piano was made by the Baldwin Piano Company in the United States. It was played by Akiko Kawamoto, a Japanese girl born in Los Angeles.
1933 She and her parents, Genkichi and Shizuko, moved to Hiroshima.
August 6, 1945 Hiroshima suffered the world’s first attack with an atomic bomb. Akiko experienced the bombing while working as a mobilized student. She passed away the next day as a result of acute radiation sickness. She was 19 years old. Her piano was damaged in the A-bomb blast and fragments of flying glass pierced the wood.
August 2005 Hiroshi Sakaibara, a piano tuner, took on the difficult task of restoring Akiko’s piano. A benefit concert with the A-bombed piano was held, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Since that time, Akiko’s piano has made music to convey the desire for peace and to remind the world of that tragic event.
August 7, 2015 Martha Argerich played Akiko’s piano.
February 15, 2017 Charles Richard-Hamelin played Akiko’s piano. His performance was broadcasted to the world by NHK World Japan on April 16.
August 4, 2017 Peter Serkin played Akiko’s piano.
February 17, 2018 Benjamin Frith played Akiko’s piano at a piano recital.
March 3, 2018 Two charity CDs of performances by Martha Argerich and Peter Serkin were released.
2019 Concerts were held on Peace Boat in Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) as parts of a joint project of Peace Boat and HOPE Project.
"The Piano That Loved Chopin” (Japanese version)
A documentary made by the Broadcasting Club of Ushita Junior High School in the city of Hiroshima. This video won the Grand Prize at the NHK National Middle School Broadcasting Contest in 2017.
"The Piano That Loved Chopin” (English version)
Narrated by students of Ushita Junior High School.
NHK world Japan August 7, 2018
The HOPE Project was given Akiko’s A-bombed Baldwin upright piano from her family and has kept it with care.
