Tak Furumoto has devoted his life to preserving the memory of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, promoting peace, and strengthening the Japanese American community in the New York–New Jersey area. He is one of the founding members of the Hiroshima Kenjin‑kai of New York, an organization formed to support Hiroshima immigrants and their descendants in the tri‑state region.
Born in 1944 at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center during World War II, Furumoto spent his early childhood in Hiroshima, where his grandparents and classmates were hibakusha. After returning to the U.S. in 1956, he later served as an Army intelligence officer in the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star Medal in 1971. Despite enduring PTSD upon his return, he has channeled his experiences into a lifelong commitment to social justice, community engagement, and cross‑cultural understanding.
Furumoto has been essential to organizing New York’s annual Hiroshima–Nagasaki memorial events, held each August in cooperation with the Nagasaki Kenjin‑kai and the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. These events gather diverse communities, survivors, and peace advocates in interfaith remembrance. As a connector and advocate, he has facilitated survivor voices at schools, universities, and civic forums, ensuring their testimonies remain visible and resonant.
In addition to his organizing work, Furumoto’s story was recently featured in the NHK World documentary “Raised in Hiroshima, Fought in Vietnam”, directed by Mayu Nakamura . The program traces his journey from a childhood in Hiroshima to life in postwar America and service in Vietnam, exploring themes of memory, reconciliation, and healing. It aired in March 2025 and prompted a public conversation in New York about his contributions and legacy.
Furumoto is also active in preserving Japanese American history through the Japanese American Association of New York (JAANY), Rutgers Oral History Archives, and community-based storytelling initiatives. He has contributed personal interviews, archival materials, and networks for researchers, educators, and young activists.
Beyond his community and peace work, he and his wife, Carolyn, have co-led Furumoto Realty since 1974, and he continues his civic engagement as a member of the AAPI Advisory Council of New Jersey. He has been instrumental in establishing Fred Korematsu Day in New Jersey and New York.
Now in his late seventies, Furumoto remains as engaged as ever. As a founding member of the Hiroshima Kenjin‑kai, a celebrated community leader, and a memoirist of personal and collective histories, Tak Furumoto embodies the enduring legacy of hibakusha solidarity, cross-cultural dialogue, and hope for a peaceful future.
References
Nakamura, Mayu, dir. Raised in Hiroshima, Fought in Vietnam. NHK World-Japan. Aired March 2025. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025198/
JapanCulture•NYC. “Local Hero to Be Featured in NHK Documentary.” March 2025. https://www.japanculture-nyc.com/blog/local-hero-to-be-featured-in-nhk-documentary/
