Thank you to those who have shown support. I'm sorry to say that this project has been cancelled due to various challenges. Nga mihi nui, Ruth G
Hello - I'm sorry to say that due to various reasons this project has been cancelled. Thank you to those who have shown their support to date.
Nga mihi nui, Ruth G
Nagasaki, a historic port city on Kyushu island, has served as a key Japanese gateway to the world since 1570. Originally a thriving center for trade and Christianity, it became Japan's only open port during 200 years of isolation, fostering unique international cultural exchanges.
On August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped a plutonium bomb over the Urakami district at 11:02 a.m., causing immediate destruction and approximately 70,000–80,000 deaths. Following the atomic bombing, it was rebuilt as a city promoting global peace.
Today Nagasaki is renowned for its cultural blend of Japanese, Chinese, and European influences, and it maintains a strong commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, with major sites like the Atomic Bomb Museum.
I visited Japan for the first time in August 2025. Whilst there I attended the 80th memorial events to commemroate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I had been given Shawnetta's name as someone to interview for a podcast I was making. She worked at the A-Bomb museum in Nagasaki. Shawnetta very generously showed me around the city of Nagasaki in particular sights that had been hit by the atomic bomb in 1945. It was great to see the city through her eyes, as she has now made this her home for the past 6 years. Shwnetta moved seamlessly between two cultures, speaking English one minute (with an American accent) and then Japanese the next and even (to me) taking on the mannerisms and social norms of being Japanese. I was impressed. It wasn't until I was back home in New Zealand and reflecting on my trip that I thought about how Shawnetta had a great personal story and would be a good subject for a film. It became easy to think about illustrating how someone can come from another culture and immerse themselves into a new way of life and also take a real interest in the history - particulay one that was so tragic and one that was tied to their own home country's history too. Shawnetta has a peaceful loving presence and outlook on the world and this is what I hope to share in a short film.
Qualified with a Bachelor of Communication Studies, majoring in video production. I am an experienced videographer with practical knowledge and theory in video production. I have won and been a finalist in local and international video competitions including Microsoft, Auckland Council, Tony Blair Faith Foundation, The Outlook for Someday and Air NZ. I am constantly up skilling myself in video production methods and the latest camera technologies. I am passionate about video and photography and creating aesthetic images which tell stories.
Check out my website- www.nathanthomasvideography.co.nz
Ruth is a highly experienced oral historian and interviewer with 27 years of practice capturing the stories that shape our lives and communities. Based in auckland, New Zealand, she has worked with families, community groups, corporations, and on projects of national significance, researching and writing about social change and organisational histories.
Driven by a deep love of storytelling, Ruth is known for her thoughtful interviews and her ability to bring people’s lived experiences vividly to life on the page and now on the screen. She believes oral history is a powerful thread that connects us—linking past and present, and strengthening the fabric of culture and society.
Ruth and Nathan have wortked together for the past couple of years on a range of short community film projects.
Find out more aobut ruth's work here: www.tapestries.co.nz
Hi Everyone - Here is a poster you can share with people. We really need help to fundraise so that Nathan Thomas (cameraman) and I can get to Japan later this year to interview and film Shawnetta. Please share.
