Initially, Jinto’s impression of AI and how people use it was negative. He saw that much on social media was “AI slop” – lazy content made with AI. But the UNITAR programme changed his mind as he learned how AI could support storytelling in more thoughtful ways.

One session that stood out for him was the session by AI filmmaker Alan Xiao. Jinto knew that people could make images or videos based on text prompts, but he had never realised AI could create such high-quality, cinematic content. It showed him how AI could be used as a creative tool rather than a shortcut.

The UNITAR programme also showed him the power of digital tools. In the session offered in collaboration with Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd., for example, participants used Minecraft Education to recreate buildings in Hiroshima from before the atomic bombing. Jinto found it an effective way to understand how life was back then and was surprised that Minecraft could be used as an educational tool, not just a game.

Another memorable activity was the virtual reality (VR) tour around the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Jinto was already familiar with the displays, photographs and artefacts at the Peace Memorial Museum, but experiencing the history of the atomic bombing through VR felt different. Being placed inside the re-created environment made the events more immediate to him, rather than something observed from a distance.

Normally in the Peace Memorial Museum, we would see pictures and artefacts …. It’s a good way to show what happened but sometimes … people wouldn’t really feel attached to it … since there’s nothing connecting them. When they used VR, we were put in that scenario and we could see … what happened.” 

The UNITAR digital storytelling programme introduced other new perspectives to Jinto. Meeting participants from other countries and listening to their stories introduced him to issues and situations he had never encountered before. And a visit with the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative taught him that the familiar trees in the local landscape were grown from saplings that survived the atomic bombing. Until then, he had seen them simply as part of the landscape. Learning their history made him realize how much meaning was embedded in everyday places.

Looking ahead, Jinto hopes to pursue a career in global issues and peace. He wants to continue learning about the challenges people face in different parts of the world. Digital storytelling is a tool he could use to connect personal memory with wider conversations about peace.

My great-grandmother’s story is one among many, but understanding these personal experiences is an important way to recognize the costs of wars and conflict. I hope my project can encourage people to value peace and think about why it matters.”