Winter Always Turns to Spring A Memoir: My Triumphant Journey Sachiko Takata Bailey

Sachiko Takata was 14 years-old when an atomic bomb dropped on her hometown of Hiroshima, Japan. In an instant her world was changed. Her mother died shortly after Japan's surrender. The devastation of war and the loss of her mother awakened in Sachiko's heart a deep resolve to devote her life to building a world of peace where the dignity of all human beings is respected and the peril and haunting specter of nuclear war is nonexistent. Given her experience with war, it was ironic that she would marry an American soldier, LeRoy Bailey. It was in the United States that she was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism and credits her practice of Buddhism, as well as her mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, with saving and transforming her life. Through his example, she was able to learn how to tap the innate power of her spirit to weather life's storms; to change poison into medicine; to win over all obstacles, and to turn winter into spring. Because of her growth and understanding of life, Sachiko Takata Bailey now thinks of August 6, 1945, as Victory Day, because the victorious and optimistic person she became emerged from the ashes and ruins of Hiroshima.

About the Author :
Dr. Akemi Bailey-Haynie is a dynamic diversity/ multicultural trainer, facilitator, consultant and humanistic adult educator. She has devoted much of her efforts towards broadening the perspective of over 250,000 educators, administrators, policy makers, social service and corporate personnel, throughout America; helping them understand diversity, multicultural and equity issues. She's been an educator for the past 32 years, teaching elementary to graduate students in numerous learning institutions throughout the Midwest. She has extensive expertise in the areas of training, facilitation, curriculum development, and evaluation. Currently, a Curriculum Specialist for the City Colleges of Chicago and an adjunct professor for the University of St. Francis teaching future principals and superintendents issues surrounding diversity and educational change. Her focus has always been grounded in the education & empowerment of humanity. Her mother joined the Soka Gakkai in 1965, when she was 2 years old. The (SGI) has over 12 million members in 192 countries and territories world-wide; whose purpose is the promotion of peace, culture and education. Being an African-American Japanese, a proud wife and mother of two sons, gives her a unique perspective and wealth of experiences that serve as an asset to her outstanding character and distinguished personality. Dr. Akemi Bailey-Haynie is a dynamic diversity/ multicultural trainer, facilitator, consultant and humanistic adult educator. She has devoted much of her efforts towards broadening the perspective of over 250,000 educators, administrators, policy makers, social service and corporate personnel, throughout America; helping them understand diversity, multicultural and equity issues. She's been an educator for the past 32 years, teaching elementary to graduate students in numerous learning institutions throughout the Midwest. She has extensive expertise in the areas of training, facilitation, curriculum development, and evaluation. Currently, a Curriculum Specialist for the City Colleges of Chicago and an adjunct professor for the University of St. Francis teaching future principals and superintendents issues surrounding diversity and educational change. Her focus has always been grounded in the education & empowerment of humanity. Her mother joined the Soka Gakkai in 1965, when she was 2 years old. The (SGI) has over 12 million members in 192 countries and territories world-wide; whose purpose is the promotion of peace, culture and education. Being an African-American Japanese, a proud wife and mother of two sons, gives her a unique perspective and wealth of experiences that serve as an asset to her outstanding character and distinguished personality.