The Association of Hiroshima University donated five pieces of roof tiles to the University of Miami in January 2013, together with a letter from Hiroshima University's president, English brochures of the University, a picture book on the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a picture book of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.
The tiles were collected from the bottom of Motoyasu River, which was ground zero of the atomic bomb explosion. The largest roof tile measures 5 inches by 7 inches. Their safety is certified by the Institute of Radiation Effect (Japan) as a guarantee that they will not cause any health damage to humans.
The donor wished the tiles to be exhibited and used as an educational tool to spread the Association's call for everlasting peace and absolute opposition to nuclear weapons. The University of Miami was contacted because it had sent Hiroshima University some seeds from a sabal palmetto tree in 1951 to help in greening the University grounds.
