Some 20 men who were exposed to radiation in the 1945 atomic bombing here have recently formed a cooking circle in order to more actively enjoy the art.
The group's members are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. All of them learned basic cookery skills in monthly cooking classes held last year by the Nagasaki Municipal Government's assistance section.
The half-year course was for men 60 or older who have been recognized as atomic bomb survivors. Municipal officials believe such people are inclined to be confined to their homes.
Some students, after finishing the course, decided to continue to practice cooking. In April, they organized the cooking circle, naming it Tocchan Cooks. "Tocchan" means old man.
At its first meeting in late April, the group made boiled bamboo shoots with rice, "gyoza" (Chinese fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork and vegetables), "kaki-tama-jiru" (Japanese egg soup), and more.
The group plans to move on to other Chinese dishes soon.