For we shall not repeat the evil ― Photos of Hiroshima A-bombing recommended for “Memory of the World” to convey tragedy worldwide
Nov. 29, 2023
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Senior Staff Writer, Kana Kobayashi and Kyoko Niiyama, Staff Writers
Japan’s national government has decided to recommend the “Visual archives of Hiroshima atomic bombing―photographs and films in 1945” for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s “Memory of the World” International Register based on a desire to share the memory of Hiroshima as a heritage of humankind and to ensure the tragedy is never repeated. The decision has raised the hopes of photographers and their surviving families as well as A-bomb survivors, who are calling the decision “a step forward.”
“If registered, the photographs will be seen by many and become a permanent record. I hope people come to realize that such a tragedy must never be repeated,” said Seiso Yamada, 95, a resident of Fuchu-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture. A former reporter for the Chugoku Shimbun, Mr. Yamada was one of the photographers who took the photos of the mushroom cloud included in the archives immediately after the atomic bombing.
On the morning of August 6, 1945, Mr. Yamada was visiting Mikumari Gorge, in the vicinity of his home, with a childhood friend. “After a flash of light and a huge bang, a reddish-black cloud rose high into the sky.” The two friends were about six kilometers from the hypocenter. He frantically snapped the shutter of the camera he had carried with him.
The Hiroshima City government and five media organizations, including the Chugoku Shimbun, aim to have the collection of 1,532 photographs and two films be added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. Of the 27 individuals who took the photos, Mr. Yamada is the only one still alive. “I just happened to capture the scene, but I think the others were also on a mission to record the horrors of the atomic bombing,” he explained. With thoughts of the deceased photographers in mind, Mr. Yamada added his signature to a document voicing support for the registration.
Among the photographs, 218 are related in some way to the Association of Photographers of the Atomic Bomb Destruction of Hiroshima, an organization founded in 1978 of which Mr. Yamada was a member. The group made efforts to collect photos of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima from local residents or their families, with the aim of preserving and making them available to the public.
Yoshito Matsushige, a former staff photographer for the Chugoku Shimbun and a representative of the photographers association who died in 2005 at the age of 92, took photos depicting the horrific conditions faced by Hiroshima citizens on the day of the bombing. Mr. Matsushige’s eldest daughter, Kayo Inoshita, 80, a resident of Miyoshi City in Hiroshima Prefecture, cherishes the photo collection titled The Moment of Hiroshima’s Destruction (1981), a publication compiled by the association that she received from her father while he was still alive. “My father, who worked hard to preserve photographs of the atomic bombing, would be pleased if more people worldwide could see them,” said Ms. Inoshita.
Photos taken by Shunkichi Kikuchi, who died in 1990 at the age of 74, come to a total of 811, accounting for more than half of the photographs. Harumi Tago, 67, a resident of Tokyo and Mr. Kikuchi’s oldest daughter, inherited his photographic negatives. “Inclusion in the Memory of the World register would ensure that my father’s photographs can forever communicate the consequences of nuclear weapons use,” Ms. Tago exclaimed.
A-bomb survivors groups also hopeful about registration
Representatives of A-bomb survivors groups are also hopeful about registration of the materials. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 81, a resident of the town of Kitahiroshima-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture and co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) who had added his signature to the document in support of the registration, welcomed the news. “People from around the world will have the opportunity to truly understand the horror and fear associated with nuclear weapons as well as the reality of the atomic bombing through, for example, the posting of the photographs and films on the internet.”
Terumi Tanaka, 91, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and another co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo who lives in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, also signed the document supporting the registration. “The materials related to the atomic bombing are a must-see record for humanity to become familiar with the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons,” emphasized Mr. Tanaka. He added, “I would be happy if UNESCO recognized the materials as a heritage of all humankind. My hope is that the damage in Nagasaki is also communicated through the materials.”
(Originally published on November 29, 2023)
Japan’s national government has decided to recommend the “Visual archives of Hiroshima atomic bombing―photographs and films in 1945” for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s “Memory of the World” International Register based on a desire to share the memory of Hiroshima as a heritage of humankind and to ensure the tragedy is never repeated. The decision has raised the hopes of photographers and their surviving families as well as A-bomb survivors, who are calling the decision “a step forward.”
“If registered, the photographs will be seen by many and become a permanent record. I hope people come to realize that such a tragedy must never be repeated,” said Seiso Yamada, 95, a resident of Fuchu-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture. A former reporter for the Chugoku Shimbun, Mr. Yamada was one of the photographers who took the photos of the mushroom cloud included in the archives immediately after the atomic bombing.
On the morning of August 6, 1945, Mr. Yamada was visiting Mikumari Gorge, in the vicinity of his home, with a childhood friend. “After a flash of light and a huge bang, a reddish-black cloud rose high into the sky.” The two friends were about six kilometers from the hypocenter. He frantically snapped the shutter of the camera he had carried with him.
The Hiroshima City government and five media organizations, including the Chugoku Shimbun, aim to have the collection of 1,532 photographs and two films be added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. Of the 27 individuals who took the photos, Mr. Yamada is the only one still alive. “I just happened to capture the scene, but I think the others were also on a mission to record the horrors of the atomic bombing,” he explained. With thoughts of the deceased photographers in mind, Mr. Yamada added his signature to a document voicing support for the registration.
Among the photographs, 218 are related in some way to the Association of Photographers of the Atomic Bomb Destruction of Hiroshima, an organization founded in 1978 of which Mr. Yamada was a member. The group made efforts to collect photos of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima from local residents or their families, with the aim of preserving and making them available to the public.
Yoshito Matsushige, a former staff photographer for the Chugoku Shimbun and a representative of the photographers association who died in 2005 at the age of 92, took photos depicting the horrific conditions faced by Hiroshima citizens on the day of the bombing. Mr. Matsushige’s eldest daughter, Kayo Inoshita, 80, a resident of Miyoshi City in Hiroshima Prefecture, cherishes the photo collection titled The Moment of Hiroshima’s Destruction (1981), a publication compiled by the association that she received from her father while he was still alive. “My father, who worked hard to preserve photographs of the atomic bombing, would be pleased if more people worldwide could see them,” said Ms. Inoshita.
Photos taken by Shunkichi Kikuchi, who died in 1990 at the age of 74, come to a total of 811, accounting for more than half of the photographs. Harumi Tago, 67, a resident of Tokyo and Mr. Kikuchi’s oldest daughter, inherited his photographic negatives. “Inclusion in the Memory of the World register would ensure that my father’s photographs can forever communicate the consequences of nuclear weapons use,” Ms. Tago exclaimed.
“A must-see record for humanity”
A-bomb survivors groups also hopeful about registration
Representatives of A-bomb survivors groups are also hopeful about registration of the materials. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 81, a resident of the town of Kitahiroshima-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture and co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) who had added his signature to the document in support of the registration, welcomed the news. “People from around the world will have the opportunity to truly understand the horror and fear associated with nuclear weapons as well as the reality of the atomic bombing through, for example, the posting of the photographs and films on the internet.”
Terumi Tanaka, 91, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and another co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo who lives in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, also signed the document supporting the registration. “The materials related to the atomic bombing are a must-see record for humanity to become familiar with the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons,” emphasized Mr. Tanaka. He added, “I would be happy if UNESCO recognized the materials as a heritage of all humankind. My hope is that the damage in Nagasaki is also communicated through the materials.”
(Originally published on November 29, 2023)
