Yoshie Oka dies, sent first message about annihilation of Hiroshima
May 30, 2017
Yoshie Oka died of malignant lymphoma at Hiroshima Teishin Hospital in downtown Hiroshima on May 19. She was 86. Along with schoolmates, Ms. Oka sent out the first message about the devastation of the city wrought by the atomic bombing. Later in life, Ms. Oka made persistent efforts to share her A-bomb experience with others. Her funeral was attended by close relatives.
On August 6, 1945, the day of the A-bomb attack, Ms. Oka was a third-year student of present-day Hijiyama Girls’ Junior and Senior High School. She had been mobilized to help with the war effort and was working in the operations room of the air defense efforts being made by the Chugoku Military District Headquarters. This was located on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, in the city center, about 790 meters from the hypocenter. There, Ms. Oka was involved in conveying messages about air raid warnings to the press and administrative offices. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, she saw the ruins of the city and, with her schoolmates, reported to the military base in Fukuyama that Hiroshima had been annihilated. This message is considered to be the first message to the outside world about the destruction of Hiroshima.
Ms. Oka began to speak out about her A-bomb experience around 30 years ago. Until her death she shared her conviction to students from elementary schools to universities, in and out of Hiroshima, that peace was built on the sacrifices that were made by many people.
(Originally published on May 30, 2017)
On August 6, 1945, the day of the A-bomb attack, Ms. Oka was a third-year student of present-day Hijiyama Girls’ Junior and Senior High School. She had been mobilized to help with the war effort and was working in the operations room of the air defense efforts being made by the Chugoku Military District Headquarters. This was located on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, in the city center, about 790 meters from the hypocenter. There, Ms. Oka was involved in conveying messages about air raid warnings to the press and administrative offices. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, she saw the ruins of the city and, with her schoolmates, reported to the military base in Fukuyama that Hiroshima had been annihilated. This message is considered to be the first message to the outside world about the destruction of Hiroshima.
Ms. Oka began to speak out about her A-bomb experience around 30 years ago. Until her death she shared her conviction to students from elementary schools to universities, in and out of Hiroshima, that peace was built on the sacrifices that were made by many people.
(Originally published on May 30, 2017)
