The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Morishita, Hiromu, 1931-

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1964-1968, 1972-1973

Volume: 23 item(s); 27 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

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.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Morishita published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 458-461.

Other Finding Aids

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.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1964/07/10 TALSto MertonWe reached home in Hiroshima safely on the 5th of July. You treated us with such sympathetic   
 1964/08/23 (#01)TL[c]from MertonIt was a pleasure to receive some news from you, and I am grateful for the photographs.Yes  
 1964/08/23 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonIt was a pleasure to receive some news from you, and I am grateful for the photographs.Yes  
 1965/01/14 HPCSto MertonHappy new year to you. The end of year I get your note for an exhibit of your drawings, thank you   
 1965/03/08 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThe books went off some time ago and you ought to receive them soon, if you have not received themYes  
 1965/03/08 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonThe books went off some time ago and you ought to receive them soon, if you have not received themYes  
 1965/04/15 HLSto MertonI received your books "Seeds of Destruction" and Fernand Pessoa's poems. I say great thanks   
 1965/08/03 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonAs August 6 approaches I want to write to you and all your friends and co-workers and join with youYes  
 1965/08/03 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonAs August 6 approaches I want to write to you and all your friends and co-workers and join with youYes  
 1965/08/16 (#01)HLSto MertonNow I received your letter. So I say thank you for that. In this summer   
 1965/08/16 (#02)otherto MertonHIROSHIMA. [-] Be gaze exactly by your own eyes. In this place, it was happened the affaire  [handwritten poem by Morishita]
 1966/12/25 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonSorry, I have just had to give up any hope of answering most of my Christmas mail personally.Yes [labeled "Christmas Morning" - dated 1965/12/25 in the published letters, but matches other circular letters from 1966, see also "Circular Letters" file]
 1966/12/25 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonI was very glad to get your card and hear from you again. Let us hope the shameful and disastrousYes [transcript of Merton's handwritten annotations on circular letter of the same date]
 1966/12/25 (#03)HCSto MertonI hope you are well. I'm so sorry not to have written. I read your poem "A Tune for Festive Dances   
 1967/08/06 (#01)TL[c]from MertonToday is Hiroshima Day and I think very much about you and all my friends there. It is a solemnYes  
 1967/08/06 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonToday is Hiroshima Day and I think very much about you and all my friends there. It is a solemnYes  
 1968/01/01 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonChristmas mail was an avalanche this year: it always is, but more so in 1967. News from friendsYes [labeled "NEW YEAR'S LETTER 1968" - see "Circular Letters" file]
 1968/01/01 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonBlessings for your family. Indeed we must hope and work for peace for all children and not permitYes  
 1972/12/12 HLSto Center from Morishita, HiromuI'm sorry so late about a year to answer and send copy of letter from late Thomas Merton.   
 1973/01/26 TL[c]from Center to Morishita, HiromuThank you so much for sending the xeroxed copies of Thomas Merton's letters to you in order that   
 undated/no/no HCSto MertonI'm sorry so late to write. First I must say thanks for sending of your copies. I read them   
 undated/no/no otherto MertonTHIS YEAR AGAIN [-] by Hiromu Morishita [-] By the T-shaped bridge where all those present in summer   
 undated/no/no HLSto MertonWith kind remembrances and all good wishes for a Merry Christmas and Bright New Year.   
        

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