Etching in mind the A-bomb experiences, Part 7
Jul. 2, 2010
by Tomomitsu Miyazaki, Kunihiko Sakurai, Masaki Kadowaki, and Aya Kano, Staff Writers
Sixty years have passed since the atomic bombing [this series was originally published in July and August 2005] and the average age of the A-bomb survivors has risen to over 73. Opportunities to hear their stories in person are now diminishing. The survivors feel pressed for time in their quest to convey the experiences of the bombing to younger people, who themselves are overwhelmed by the challenge of grasping these experiences and handing down the memories of the A-bombed cities. In this series, the Chugoku Shimbun explores efforts to pass on the A-bomb experience to future generations as the difficulty increases in step with the age of the survivors.
"I no longer have the strength to do what I would like." Isamu Takahashi, 77, of Kure City wrote this comment in a questionnaire conducted by the Chugoku Shimbun. The message made in pen expressed his frustration at being unable to carry out his desire to convey his A-bomb experience to other people.
When we visited Mr. Takahashi at his home overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, we learned that he had made notes to recall the scenes he witnessed on the day of the atomic bombing. He made these notes ten years ago, in response to a call for A-bomb accounts by the former Ministry of Health and Welfare. However, he has yet to expand them into a proper memoir. "It was all so tragic, so cruel," he said. "It was an experience I just can't describe adequately."
But his memories of the devastation 60 years ago are clear. He was a bus driver, just 17 years old. He was taking a nap in the waiting room on the second floor of the bus depot close to Hiroshima Station. When the bomb exploded, he was knocked unconscious and became pinned down by debris. Regaining his senses, he found that a beam was lying across his back. He managed to free himself, but even now he suffers from osteoarthritis of the spine and other disorders.
After the bombing, Mr. Takahashi landed a job in Kure. There, he was sometimes exposed to hardhearted criticism. A coworker once said to him sarcastically, "Compared to the survivors of the Kure air raid, you A-bomb survivors get better compensation." To this Mr. Takahashi responded, "Those of us who were exposed to the radiation from the A-bomb may as well have been sentenced to death. Our execution can come at any time, so we're always living in fear."
He was also reluctant to talk about his experience with his family. "It's a painful story and our children don't like to hear about it," he said, "but they do understand that their parents have endured hardships in their lives." Sitting next to her husband of 50 years, Reiko, 71, concurred.
Still, last spring, with the aim of showing it to their children, they bought a video which depicts the World War II era, including the days before and after the war. They hope their children will be drawn to view it one day, but time has marched on.
Quite a number of A-bomb survivors, like Mr. Takahashi, are feeling increasingly frustrated. Of the 684 survivors who responded to the questionnaire, 65.2% said, "I want my A-bomb experience to be passed on to younger people." But in a space for comments, many expressed dissatisfaction at their inability to put their message across to others. One woman in her 70s wrote: "I don't want to recall that hellish experience, and anyway, there are so many people who are complacent about peace. They read my testimony, but they can't really grasp the situation." And a man, also in his 70s, wrote: "However earnestly I talk about it, I can't fully make an impression on people who have been enjoying a life of peace."
Yoshie Funahashi, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University who represents the Association of Social Workers for Hibakusha, points out that "As there are not enough opportunities for them, only a handful of survivors are actually taking action." In order to promote testimony activities, she suggests that the City of Hiroshima and other public entities play an active role as facilitator and serve as a bridge to the younger generation by, for example, locating and nurturing volunteer witnesses.
The A-bomb experience is the foundation of peace. What should the A-bomb cities do to make best use of this precious asset? The average age of the survivors has exceeded 73 as of this spring. Time is running out.
(Originally published on July 31, 2005)
Survivors feel frustration in being unable to fully convey the tragedy
Sixty years have passed since the atomic bombing [this series was originally published in July and August 2005] and the average age of the A-bomb survivors has risen to over 73. Opportunities to hear their stories in person are now diminishing. The survivors feel pressed for time in their quest to convey the experiences of the bombing to younger people, who themselves are overwhelmed by the challenge of grasping these experiences and handing down the memories of the A-bombed cities. In this series, the Chugoku Shimbun explores efforts to pass on the A-bomb experience to future generations as the difficulty increases in step with the age of the survivors.
"I no longer have the strength to do what I would like." Isamu Takahashi, 77, of Kure City wrote this comment in a questionnaire conducted by the Chugoku Shimbun. The message made in pen expressed his frustration at being unable to carry out his desire to convey his A-bomb experience to other people.
When we visited Mr. Takahashi at his home overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, we learned that he had made notes to recall the scenes he witnessed on the day of the atomic bombing. He made these notes ten years ago, in response to a call for A-bomb accounts by the former Ministry of Health and Welfare. However, he has yet to expand them into a proper memoir. "It was all so tragic, so cruel," he said. "It was an experience I just can't describe adequately."
But his memories of the devastation 60 years ago are clear. He was a bus driver, just 17 years old. He was taking a nap in the waiting room on the second floor of the bus depot close to Hiroshima Station. When the bomb exploded, he was knocked unconscious and became pinned down by debris. Regaining his senses, he found that a beam was lying across his back. He managed to free himself, but even now he suffers from osteoarthritis of the spine and other disorders.
After the bombing, Mr. Takahashi landed a job in Kure. There, he was sometimes exposed to hardhearted criticism. A coworker once said to him sarcastically, "Compared to the survivors of the Kure air raid, you A-bomb survivors get better compensation." To this Mr. Takahashi responded, "Those of us who were exposed to the radiation from the A-bomb may as well have been sentenced to death. Our execution can come at any time, so we're always living in fear."
He was also reluctant to talk about his experience with his family. "It's a painful story and our children don't like to hear about it," he said, "but they do understand that their parents have endured hardships in their lives." Sitting next to her husband of 50 years, Reiko, 71, concurred.
Still, last spring, with the aim of showing it to their children, they bought a video which depicts the World War II era, including the days before and after the war. They hope their children will be drawn to view it one day, but time has marched on.
Quite a number of A-bomb survivors, like Mr. Takahashi, are feeling increasingly frustrated. Of the 684 survivors who responded to the questionnaire, 65.2% said, "I want my A-bomb experience to be passed on to younger people." But in a space for comments, many expressed dissatisfaction at their inability to put their message across to others. One woman in her 70s wrote: "I don't want to recall that hellish experience, and anyway, there are so many people who are complacent about peace. They read my testimony, but they can't really grasp the situation." And a man, also in his 70s, wrote: "However earnestly I talk about it, I can't fully make an impression on people who have been enjoying a life of peace."
Yoshie Funahashi, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University who represents the Association of Social Workers for Hibakusha, points out that "As there are not enough opportunities for them, only a handful of survivors are actually taking action." In order to promote testimony activities, she suggests that the City of Hiroshima and other public entities play an active role as facilitator and serve as a bridge to the younger generation by, for example, locating and nurturing volunteer witnesses.
The A-bomb experience is the foundation of peace. What should the A-bomb cities do to make best use of this precious asset? The average age of the survivors has exceeded 73 as of this spring. Time is running out.
(Originally published on July 31, 2005)
