French broadcaster interviews Hiroshima A-bomb survivor for documentary about meaning of atomic bombings
Feb. 9, 2015
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
The French national television broadcaster will produce a history documentary on the theme of the atomic bombings and World War II this summer, the 70th anniversary of the A-bomb attacks. The crew began their work in Hiroshima on February 1, spending 90 minutes filming the account of Chieko Kiriake, 85, a survivor living in Asaminami Ward. The program will include the accounts of survivors and historians as it explores the historical meaning of the atomic bombings.
Nicolas Jallot, 49, the director of the program, and three other crew members visited Ms. Kiriake at her home. At the time of the bombing, she was a fourth-year student at Hiroshima Prefectural Second Girls Middle School. Many of the younger students from her school died in the blast after being badly burned while helping to demolish buildings to create a fire lane. Ms. Kiriake told her visitors that she had to help cremate the students one after another. She also talked about how she suffered from the aftereffects of exposure to radiation as well as prejudice and discrimination because of her status as a survivor. Ms. Kiriake asked them to tell people in France and Europe about these children and their miserable deaths.
France has the third largest nuclear arsenal, after the United States and Russia. Mr. Jallot said, “It is important to convey the words of the survivors in considering the atomic bombings and the war, the nuclear arms race during the Cold War, and different perspectives on the atomic bombings.”
The program, which will run about one hour, will air this summer. The crew will stay in Hiroshima until February 5 and interview other survivors and researchers at the Hiroshima Peace Institute at Hiroshima City University. They will continue their work by gathering further information in France and the United States.
(Originally published on February 2, 2015)
The French national television broadcaster will produce a history documentary on the theme of the atomic bombings and World War II this summer, the 70th anniversary of the A-bomb attacks. The crew began their work in Hiroshima on February 1, spending 90 minutes filming the account of Chieko Kiriake, 85, a survivor living in Asaminami Ward. The program will include the accounts of survivors and historians as it explores the historical meaning of the atomic bombings.
Nicolas Jallot, 49, the director of the program, and three other crew members visited Ms. Kiriake at her home. At the time of the bombing, she was a fourth-year student at Hiroshima Prefectural Second Girls Middle School. Many of the younger students from her school died in the blast after being badly burned while helping to demolish buildings to create a fire lane. Ms. Kiriake told her visitors that she had to help cremate the students one after another. She also talked about how she suffered from the aftereffects of exposure to radiation as well as prejudice and discrimination because of her status as a survivor. Ms. Kiriake asked them to tell people in France and Europe about these children and their miserable deaths.
France has the third largest nuclear arsenal, after the United States and Russia. Mr. Jallot said, “It is important to convey the words of the survivors in considering the atomic bombings and the war, the nuclear arms race during the Cold War, and different perspectives on the atomic bombings.”
The program, which will run about one hour, will air this summer. The crew will stay in Hiroshima until February 5 and interview other survivors and researchers at the Hiroshima Peace Institute at Hiroshima City University. They will continue their work by gathering further information in France and the United States.
(Originally published on February 2, 2015)
