Kiyoshi Tanimoto

Kiyoshi Tanimoto (1909-1986) was a Methodist minister from Hiroshima, who become known globally for his heroic actions in the aftermath of the atomic bomb of 1945. He was one of the six characters featured in John Hersey’s Hiroshima (1946) and dedicated his life to helping those impacted by the bomb for decades after, the most notable example being his support of the Hiroshima Maidens. He was married to Chisa Tanimoto, and they had five children, including Koko Kondo, the anti-nuclear peace activist.

Koko Kondo was born in Hiroshima, Japan, and was just 9 months old when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Her father, Kiyoshi Tanimoto, became globally known for his work helping victims of the bomb. Koko is now a prominent peace activist, and has campaigned against the use of nuclear weapons for most of her life. Through her work over the years, she has met with political and religious figures, including Barack Obama, Pope Leo XIV, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and Pearl Buck.