Holding his notes, Shun gestures towards the Atomic Bomb Dome. He explains that Hiroshima city officials decided to preserve the ruined building as a permanent reminder of the atomic bombing, so humanity will never forget the tragedy and prevent it from happening again.

The dome was the only structure left standing near the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima on 6/8/1945. Its ruins serve as a memorial to the more than 140,000 people who died.

Groups of foreign visitors listen intently. More and more people gather, forming a circle around Shun. He concludes his presentation by handing out origami cranes and encouraging everyone to share what they have learned with their friends.

When a tourist offered Shun 1,000 yen (about 6.8 USD), he declined, replying, "Time is money."

12-year-old Shun guides foreign visitors at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, with the Atomic Bomb Dome in the background. Photo: *Mainichi*

According to *Mainichi*, Shun's parents began exposing him to English language learning materials when he was just 7 months old. By the age of 4, he was able to express his thoughts in English.

In elementary school, Shun developed a deep interest in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. He frequently researched and visited the site. His great-grandmother was a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing.

Whenever he meets foreigners, Shun proactively approaches them to converse. However, one encounter left him disappointed when he couldn't answer a visitor's question.

Motivated by this experience, Shun dedicated himself to further study and knowledge acquisition. Seeing his son's enthusiasm, his mother suggested, "Why don't you become a tour guide at the memorial?"

Shun began volunteering as a tour guide in 8/2021, on the 76th anniversary of the bombing, while he was still in second grade. Now, twice a month, he visits the park and guides foreign visitors to 7 locations, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Memorial Cenotaph.

Shun's volunteer guide vest, with the phrase "Don't hesitate to speak to me in English!" on the back. Photo: *Mainichi*

He often shares his great-grandmother's story, showing pictures of her. She was only 12 at the time of the bombing and was at home 1.5 km from the hypocenter. She was rescued from the rubble.

To make his tours more engaging, Shun incorporates quizzes and introduces local specialties like okonomiyaki pancakes.

In March, Shun had a memorable encounter with an American tourist in his 40s. The tourist initially believed that nuclear weapons could prevent war, but after listening to Shun's tour, he changed his perspective.

"I learned that I can touch people's hearts through my tours," Shun said. "I want to convey the message that even after the war ends, the pain lingers."

Duc Trung (*Mainichi*, *Asahi*, *Yomiuri*)