Yahata is a 'hibakusha', a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima by the United States. While talks by hibakusha have become a regular feature of the city's memorial sites, Yahata stands out for her presentations in English. Resolving to learn English, she began taking classes at the YMCA as she headed into her 80s, and by 2021, was giving her presentations exclusively in English. Yahata's English ability is mostly limited to reading the script, but the impact of her spoken words on the audience is undeniable, moving some to tears. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, his home constituency, starting on Friday.

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