Hiromu Morishita was president of the Senior High School Teachers' Society and the Hiroshima Peace Education Institute in Japan. He was a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and led a group of survivors, known as the Hibakusha, on a world tour for peace. On May 16, 1964, the group visited Merton and stayed at Gethsemani. Merton read Morishita his poem, "Paper Cranes" (the paper crane is a Japanese symbol of peace). (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 458-459.)
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1964/07/10 |
TALS to Merton |
We reached home in Hiroshima safely on the 5th of July. You treated us with such sympathetic |
|
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1964/08/23 (#01) |
TL[c] from Merton |
It was a pleasure to receive some news from you, and I am grateful for the photographs. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1964/08/23 (#02) |
TALS[x] from Merton |
It was a pleasure to receive some news from you, and I am grateful for the photographs. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1965/01/14 |
HPCS to Merton |
Happy new year to you. The end of year I get your note for an exhibit of your drawings, thank you |
|
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1965/03/08 (#01) |
TL[c] from Merton |
The books went off some time ago and you ought to receive them soon, if you have not received them |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1965/03/08 (#02) |
TALS[x] from Merton |
The books went off some time ago and you ought to receive them soon, if you have not received them |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1965/04/15 |
HLS to Merton |
I received your books "Seeds of Destruction" and Fernand Pessoa's poems. I say great thanks |
|
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1965/08/03 (#01) |
HLS[x] from Merton |
As August 6 approaches I want to write to you and all your friends and co-workers and join with you |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1965/08/03 (#02) |
transcript from Merton |
As August 6 approaches I want to write to you and all your friends and co-workers and join with you |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1965/08/16 (#01) |
HLS to Merton |
Now I received your letter. So I say thank you for that. In this summer |
|
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1965/08/16 (#02) |
other to Merton |
HIROSHIMA. [-] Be gaze exactly by your own eyes. In this place, it was happened the affaire |
|
[handwritten poem by Morishita]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1966/12/25 (#01) |
TALS[x] from Merton |
Sorry, I have just had to give up any hope of answering most of my Christmas mail personally. |
✓ |
[labeled "Christmas Morning" - dated 1965/12/25 in the published letters, but matches other circular letters from 1966, see also "Circular Letters" file]
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1966/12/25 (#02) |
transcript from Merton |
I was very glad to get your card and hear from you again. Let us hope the shameful and disastrous |
✓ |
[transcript of Merton's handwritten annotations on circular letter of the same date]
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1966/12/25 (#03) |
HCS to Merton |
I hope you are well. I'm so sorry not to have written. I read your poem "A Tune for Festive Dances |
|
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1967/08/06 (#01) |
TL[c] from Merton |
Today is Hiroshima Day and I think very much about you and all my friends there. It is a solemn |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1967/08/06 (#02) |
TALS[x] from Merton |
Today is Hiroshima Day and I think very much about you and all my friends there. It is a solemn |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1968/01/01 (#01) |
TALS[x] from Merton |
Christmas mail was an avalanche this year: it always is, but more so in 1967. News from friends |
✓ |
[labeled "NEW YEAR'S LETTER 1968" - see "Circular Letters" file]
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1968/01/01 (#02) |
transcript from Merton |
Blessings for your family. Indeed we must hope and work for peace for all children and not permit |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1972/12/12 |
HLS to Center from Morishita, Hiromu |
I'm sorry so late about a year to answer and send copy of letter from late Thomas Merton. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1973/01/26 |
TL[c] from Center to Morishita, Hiromu |
Thank you so much for sending the xeroxed copies of Thomas Merton's letters to you in order that |
|
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
undated/no/no |
HCS to Merton |
I'm sorry so late to write. First I must say thanks for sending of your copies. I read them |
|
«detailed view» |
| 22. |
undated/no/no |
other to Merton |
THIS YEAR AGAIN [-] by Hiromu Morishita [-] By the T-shaped bridge where all those present in summer |
|
«detailed view» |
| 23. |
undated/no/no |
HLS to Merton |
With kind remembrances and all good wishes for a Merry Christmas and Bright New Year. |
|
«detailed view» |
|