Hibaku Pianos (Atomic pianos) are the pianos that survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, 1945.
Of the six pianos that survived, one was featured at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Concert held in December.
Yagawa Mitsunori of Yagawa Piano Studio with ICAN International Steering Group Member Kawasaki Akira (seated). Photo: Peace Boat
The Nobel Peace Prize Concert is held each year and is a musical tribute to the winner of the Peace Prize.
The piano that appeared at the concert was an 85 note black Yamaha upright piano built in 1938 (serial no. 33918). It was just 3km from the epicentre, in Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, when the bomb went off.
The piano’s owner donated the instrument to piano technician Yagawa Mitsunori, of Yagawa Piano Studio. Mr Yagawa’s company owns all six instruments (5 uprights and a grand).
A “Hibaku Piano” in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Photo: Yagawa Piano Studio
In this video, Mr. Yagawa’ reveals why he collected and restored the pianos that survived the atomic bombs.
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