We had met privately in the office of a friend, the daughter of Teruko who herself devotes her life to peace-building projects worldwide. I was then invited to make individual portraits of each woman for the project and touring exhibition Poppies: Women and War. We ate ice cream, and drank endless cups of green tea. Each has shared their memories of the day of the bombing and what they experienced subsequently, in the hope that ours and future generations will cease to develop nuclear bombs and strive for a world of peace without wars.
'This photograph shows A-bomb hibakusha - survivors - Ikuko, Teruko and Takako. She reports from Japan on the eve of the anniversary: The Poppies project is an ongoing one, which has taken Lee to Japan this week to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The exhibition features the incredible personal stories of many women from all over the world who have been affected by war. Two weeks ago photographer Lee Karen Stow opened her exhibition Poppies: Women and War at the Museum of Liverpool. Hiroshimo survivors Ikuko, Teruko and Takako, iPhone photo taken after their portrait session © Lee Karen Stow