For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School in Hiroshima has tasked its art students with interviewing hibakusha -- atom bomb survivors -- and turning their harrowing testimonies into paintings.

Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the US atom bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her.

For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School in Hiroshima has tasked its art students with interviewing hibakusha -- atom bomb survivors -- and turning their harrowing testimonies into paintings.

Trudging through the ruins of Hiroshima after the US atom bombing four days before in 1945, five-year-old Masaki Hironaka clutched his mother's hand and silently vowed to protect her.

It's one of many scenes from 80 years ago this August still etched in the octogenarian's memory -- and now depicted vividly by Japanese teenagers on canvas. For almost 20 years, Motomachi High School ...