The director of the documentary “GATE,” about the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, attended the Japan premiere in Tokyo on Sunday and expressed his condolences over the death of freelance TV announcer Ako Kawada, 29, who committed suicide last month.

Kawada was involved in the film production as a volunteer and had been scheduled to be emcee at the premiere. Director Matt Taylor said: “She was a very pure person. We cried together several times when watching the film. I am proud that her name will forever be part of the credits.”

“GATE” tells how the ashes from Hiroshima were collected after the atomic bombing and taken to the United States for peace activities. The film will be released July 12 nationwide.

6 Comments

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  Fair dinkum! at 09:15 AM JST - 3rd June

  Oh shame! Yes, the aftermath of the atomic bombing was so terrible. Wouldn't be more relevant to make a documentary about why the west was given no choice but to carry out a major genocidal attack on Japan? I do not condone the use of the A-bomb, but the reasons for its use were very clear. History can't be changed, but let's not forget the lead up to the bombing.

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  zanza123 at 12:34 PM JST - 3rd June

  I agree, Japan has time and time again made itself to look the victim. However, there is little to no mention of the Japanese activities in the Rape of Nanking. Also, the West has done little to no effort in shedding light on this atrocity. Let's not be ignorant ourselves and turn a blind eye to the occurences in history.

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  zanza123 at 12:34 PM JST - 3rd June

  Of course, not ONLY the Rape of Nanking, but also Japan's involvements in the WWII, and so on.

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  presto345 at 03:59 PM JST - 3rd June

  Japan's involvements in the WWII, and so on.

  Here we go again. The all time favorite ramble topic on JT.

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  bebert at 07:10 AM JST - 4th June

  Here we go again. The all time favorite ramble topic on JT.

  I agree. How about some sympathy for the poor suicide, Ako Kawada.

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  rjd_jr at 08:10 AM JST - 4th June

  Totally agree with presto345. What does rape of nanking or anything else have to do with Ako Kawada or Hiroshima documentary? That is the sign of pure desperation and ignorance. For the record, Japanese filmmakers or any Japanese person has a right to feel sorrow for a historical event of significance on its own soil, including hiroshima bombing. It has nothing at all to do with 'white washing' history or any of that other nonsense. They have that right to remember its history on its own merit, as does the people of any country, including Americans with 9/11, Chinese with rape of nanking, Iraqi's with the iraq war debacle, Afghanis with the innocents killed by U.S. airstrikes and attacks, and so on and so forth. Get with the program people.

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