Striving to fill voids in Hiroshima—Copies of list of 814 identified remains stored in Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound posted, information from throughout Japan awaited
Jul. 18, 2022
by Taiki Yomura, Staff Writer
The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, located in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the city’s Naka Ward, holds in storage the remains of unidentified A-bomb victims. On July 15, copies of a list of 814 individuals whose remains have been identified but yet unclaimed were posted in various locations in Japan as part of a project that the Hiroshima City government has continued with the cooperation of local governments and other organizations. Copies of the list of names are displayed through the end of October in the hope that bereaved family members or others with some connection to the A-bomb victims will provide information about the people in question.
The list of names is printed in poster form on two types of large-sized papers. Along with the phrase “Searching for bereaved family members,” the names of A-bomb victims are listed in the order of the Japanese syllabary, with some names also including other information that could serve as a clue to the identity of the victims, including age, address, and workplace. In Hiroshima City, the list has been posted at around 200 locations, including community centers, libraries, and bus depots. At Hiroshima City Hall, one staff member recently put up a list on one of the two sizes of posters.
The city government began releasing copies of a list of identified remains to the public in 1968 and sending copies to local governments and elsewhere across the nation in 1985. Since the start of this effort, the remains of 848 people have been returned to bereaved family members. This year, copies of the list were sent to a total of 1,986 organizations throughout Japan, including local governments and A-bomb survivors’ groups. The information was also posted on the Hiroshima City’s website. Staff members at the Research Division of the city government’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department are calling for even seemingly insignificant tidbits of information in the hopes that as many unclaimed remains as possible can be returned to bereaved family members.
(Originally published on July 18, 2022)
The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, located in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the city’s Naka Ward, holds in storage the remains of unidentified A-bomb victims. On July 15, copies of a list of 814 individuals whose remains have been identified but yet unclaimed were posted in various locations in Japan as part of a project that the Hiroshima City government has continued with the cooperation of local governments and other organizations. Copies of the list of names are displayed through the end of October in the hope that bereaved family members or others with some connection to the A-bomb victims will provide information about the people in question.
The list of names is printed in poster form on two types of large-sized papers. Along with the phrase “Searching for bereaved family members,” the names of A-bomb victims are listed in the order of the Japanese syllabary, with some names also including other information that could serve as a clue to the identity of the victims, including age, address, and workplace. In Hiroshima City, the list has been posted at around 200 locations, including community centers, libraries, and bus depots. At Hiroshima City Hall, one staff member recently put up a list on one of the two sizes of posters.
The city government began releasing copies of a list of identified remains to the public in 1968 and sending copies to local governments and elsewhere across the nation in 1985. Since the start of this effort, the remains of 848 people have been returned to bereaved family members. This year, copies of the list were sent to a total of 1,986 organizations throughout Japan, including local governments and A-bomb survivors’ groups. The information was also posted on the Hiroshima City’s website. Staff members at the Research Division of the city government’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department are calling for even seemingly insignificant tidbits of information in the hopes that as many unclaimed remains as possible can be returned to bereaved family members.
(Originally published on July 18, 2022)
