(August 2, '97)

The concerned people of a lost town called "Sarugaku-Cho", where only the A-bomb

Dome survived, will observe a joint memorial service for the A-bomb victims in the afternoon today after 52 years from the bombing.

Prior to the service, the survey on the circumstance of Sarugaku-Cho after the bombing, was conducted by the ex-residents and the Chugoku Shimbun.

A restored house-to-house map which outlines the town before the bombing, and the records finding out the death of 91 residents as of the end of 1945 and one resident as of 1946 were reported by the Chugoku Shimbun dated July 23rd.. The records describes the person's death by the bombing, including name, age, location at the time of the bombing, family members who were together on August 6, as well as the circumstances at that time and the date of death. In response to the report, there were over 100 contacts to the group called "Yagura-Kai"(Head, Mr. Karoku Yamamoto) which is formed by the related people to the town.

As a result of the follow-up survey, 21 people from 9 households by the end of 1945 and one person by 1946 died of acute radiation sickness. Out of 21, 20 people died on August 6th. The number of the victims is summed up to be 96 people . Many of the victims confirmed at this time were experienced the A-bombing at their residence and their working place.

The bereaved family of these victims had moved to Tokyo, Aichi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka Prefecture and so on.

A person who sent a valuable picture, made a first appearance in the paper, said that "I used to feel that my experience in Hiroshima is fading away. It is nice to know about this movement for the restoration of the town. I am deeply impressed."

The joint memorial service for the A-bomb victims will be observed at the Saikouji Temple which locates near the A-bomb Dome. Approximately 60 bereaved families and related other people will gather from all over Japan and mourn for the victims whose lives were vanished instantly. Further plans for the restoration of the town will also be discussed.