"I felt lonely, and now I can start to be a messenger of peace"
My name is Sora, and I’m Japanese. In college, I had trouble with interpersonal relationships, and sometimes I felt lonely. Through this cultural exchange event between Japanese and Korean people in Hiroshima, I realized that there are people who care about me. I arrived feeling lonely. Now I realize that I, too, cherish and love with all my heart the friends I met during those five days.
Because I had that experience in which I felt loved and learned to love others, I can now, in my daily life, stand by others, love my neighbor, and begin to be a messenger of peace.
On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, we—young people from Korea and Tokyo—gathered in Hiroshima. Being able to walk together for peace, drawing on our respective historical perspectives, was an unforgettable experience. As a Japanese person, I have received an education in peace, but through this exchange I have realized that historical values are shaped by the environment in which one finds oneself. At times, this can influence my way of seeing things both positively and negatively.
Japan and South Korea are very close geographically, which makes travel easier. But there aren’t many opportunities for them to come together to share their complex history, and it’s a topic people tend to avoid. That is why this experience has been a valuable opportunity to confront the history between Japan and South Korea and discover what our mission is as people living today. We call this gathering Nikkan.
The time I’ve spent with all of you is a treasure. The moments when we’ve laughed, cried, and learned together have become an invaluable and irreplaceable experience. I don’t want this experience to end here. Until I see you again, I want to use what I’ve learned to fulfill my mission as an ambassador of peace wherever I am.
Sora Yabuki (Servi Evagelii Japan) Upcoming Events
