Hiroshima Shinsei Gakuen, a residential child welfare facility in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, marked its 80th anniversary in 2025. The facility traces its origins to an orphanage established by Yorito Kamikuri, who invested his personal fortune after witnessing the devastation caused by the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Since its founding, initially in the Ujina area (present-day Minami Ward in Hiroshima), the facility cared for children who had lost their guardians during World War II and now cares for those who have faced difficulties living at home due to abuse and other reasons.
In late October, a modest gathering was held at the facility to commemorate its 80th anniversary. Apples and sweet potatoes were placed before about 60 children. Tetsuo Kamikuri, 76, the current director and eldest son of the founder, explained their significance by introducing a story he heard from his father about the institution’s early days.
