The Ghosts of Hiroshima

My family and I went to Hiroshima in January 2006. Immediately after our 4-day trip I wanted to post an entry, but I found myself unable to tell my story. It was just too long. Too many details, too much emotions. Hiroshima continues to haunt me.

Eighty year old Ojii-san (Lolo) Kimura, our host, contemplates the Atomic Dome. It is the only ruin left standing after the restoration. Ojii-san lost a brother-in-law to the bombing sixty years ago. Could he still remember?

The good reason Americans had for bombing Hiroshima was that it saved over a million lives by not having to invade Japan to end the war. Killing 200,000 to save a million lives? Japan at the time was already negotiating the terms of surrender. Most of the victims were women and children. Sacrificial lambs.

Before

After

Majority of the children in the city were in school when the bomb was dropped. This bag was among the many children's belongings in the museum. The sign read,

“Miyoko Sawada (then 15) was a second-year student at First Municipal Girls’ High School. She was exposed to the bomb at her building demolition worksite. Her family searched the burned ruins at the site but was unable to identify her body. At the end of August, her father heard on the radio that belongings of some students have been returned to Miyoko’s school. He went to investigate and received this bag.. This wallet and blood type certificate were in the bag.�?

A Japanese girl walks across Hiroshima's cityscape of 60 years ago, probably not fully understanding what it meant. Perhaps in her pocket, she has a purse just like Miyoko Sawada's.

No more Hiroshima. Please.