Hiroshima

1. The Atomic Flash: A Moment of Utter Annihilation

Then a tremendous flash of light cut across the sky.

Instantaneous destruction. The atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima at 8:15 AM on August 6, 1945, unleashing an unprecedented flash of light and heat. This single moment marked the obliteration of a city and the dawn of the atomic age. The flash was so intense that it burned patterns onto clothing and left shadows of people and objects on walls, forever etching the horror into the landscape.

Sensory overload. Survivors recall the flash as being brighter than the sun, followed by a pressure wave that flattened buildings and scattered debris. Many experienced a complete sensory overload, with sight, sound, and touch merging into a single, terrifying sensation. The immediate aftermath was characterized by darkness, dust, and an eerie silence, broken only by the cries of the injured.

The point of impact. The bomb detonated approximately 1,900 feet above the Shima Surgical Clinic, maximizing the blast radius and destructive power. The hypocenter became a zone of total devastation, where virtually nothing survived. The event instantly vaporized structures and people, leaving behind a barren wasteland.

2. Survival's Paradox: Chance, Volition, and Unfathomable Loss

They still wonder why they lived when so many others died.

Arbitrary survival. Among the hundreds of thousands in Hiroshima, a few survived the immediate blast, often due to seemingly random factors. A wall, a turn, a late train, a decision to stay inside—these small acts of chance or volition determined who lived and who died. This randomness created a profound sense of survivor's guilt.

The six survivors. Hersey focuses on six individuals: Miss Toshiko Sasaki, Dr. Masakazu Fujii, Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura, Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, Dr. Terufumi Sasaki, and Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto. Their stories illustrate the diverse experiences of survival, each marked by a unique combination of luck, resilience, and the struggle to comprehend the incomprehensible.

Living a dozen lives. The survivors found themselves thrust into a world of unimaginable suffering and death. They witnessed scenes of horror that would forever haunt them, and they were forced to confront the fragility of life and the arbitrary nature of fate. Each survivor, in their act of survival, lived a dozen lives and saw more death than they ever thought they would see.

3. The Firestorm: A City Consumed, Humanity Tested

Not just a patch of Koi, as he had expected, but as much of Hiroshima as he could see through the clouded air was giving off a thick, dreadful miasma.

City-wide conflagration. The atomic blast ignited a massive firestorm that engulfed Hiroshima. The fires were fueled by the debris of collapsed buildings, broken gas lines, and the intense heat generated by the explosion. The firestorm raged for hours, consuming everything in its path.

The river's refuge. Many survivors sought refuge in the rivers that crisscrossed Hiroshima, hoping to escape the flames and heat. However, the water was often contaminated with debris and radiation, and many drowned or succumbed to their injuries while waiting for rescue. The rivers became a symbol of both hope and despair.

Acts of compassion. Amidst the chaos and destruction, there were also countless acts of compassion and selflessness. People helped strangers, shared what little food and water they had, and risked their lives to rescue others from the flames. These acts of humanity offered a glimmer of hope in the face of overwhelming tragedy.

4. The Aftermath: A Landscape of Horror and Resilience

From every second or third house came the voices of people buried and abandoned, who invariably screamed, with formal politeness, ‘ Tasukete kure! Help, if you please!’

Unimaginable suffering. The immediate aftermath of the bombing was a scene of unimaginable suffering. The injured lay scattered among the ruins, many with severe burns, broken bones, and other life-threatening injuries. Medical facilities were overwhelmed, and supplies were scarce.

The walking wounded. Countless survivors, disfigured and in shock, wandered through the streets in search of help or loved ones. Many were naked or in rags, their skin peeling off in sheets. They were the walking wounded, a testament to the bomb's indiscriminate power.

The silence of death. Interspersed with the cries of the injured was an eerie silence, the silence of death. Corpses lay everywhere, often indistinguishable from the living. The stench of burning flesh and decaying bodies permeated the air, a constant reminder of the scale of the tragedy.

5. Radiation Sickness: The Unseen, Insidious Enemy

These four did not realize it, but they were coming down with the strange, capricious disease which came later to be known as radiation sickness.

Delayed effects. In the weeks and months following the bombing, many survivors began to experience a range of mysterious symptoms, including hair loss, nausea, fever, and bleeding gums. These were the effects of radiation sickness, an insidious and poorly understood condition.

Three stages of illness. Doctors eventually identified three stages of radiation sickness:

• Stage 1: Initial reaction to radiation exposure (hours/days)
• Stage 2: Hair loss, fever, and diarrhea (10-15 days after)
• Stage 3: Blood disorders and complications (20-30 days after)

Long-term consequences. Radiation sickness had long-term consequences for many survivors, increasing their risk of cancer, birth defects, and other health problems. The invisible nature of radiation made it all the more terrifying, a constant reminder of the bomb's lingering effects.

6. The Lingering Questions: Why Hiroshima? Why Us?

They still wonder why they lived when so many others died.

Moral implications. The bombing of Hiroshima raised profound moral questions about the use of atomic weapons. Was it justified to kill so many civilians in order to hasten the end of the war? What are the ethical limits of warfare? These questions continue to be debated to this day.

The survivor's burden. The survivors of Hiroshima were left to grapple with the psychological and emotional scars of their experience. Many suffered from survivor's guilt, wondering why they had been spared while so many others had perished. They also struggled to make sense of the senseless violence and destruction they had witnessed.

The search for meaning. In the face of such profound loss, many survivors sought meaning and purpose in their lives. Some dedicated themselves to peace activism, working to prevent future nuclear conflicts. Others found solace in religion or community, seeking to rebuild their lives and their city.

7. Rebuilding from Ashes: A City's Struggle for Renewal

Everyone seems to be so busy.

Physical reconstruction. In the aftermath of the bombing, Hiroshima faced the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch. The city was a wasteland of rubble and ashes, with most of its buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair. The survivors had to clear the debris, rebuild homes, and restore essential services.

Psychological recovery. The psychological recovery of Hiroshima was an even greater challenge. The survivors had to cope with the trauma of their experience, the loss of loved ones, and the fear of radiation sickness. They needed support, counseling, and a sense of hope for the future.

A symbol of peace. Despite the devastation, Hiroshima resolved to rebuild itself as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. The city established a Peace Memorial Park and Museum, dedicated to the victims of the bombing and to the promotion of nuclear disarmament. Hiroshima became a beacon of hope for a world free from nuclear weapons.

8. The Enduring Scars: Physical, Emotional, and Societal

The whole way, Father Kleinsorge was oppressed by the thought that all the damage he saw had been done in one instant by one bomb.

Keloid tumors. Many survivors developed keloid tumors, thick, rubbery scars that formed over their burns. These tumors were a constant reminder of their injuries and a source of physical and emotional pain. They also served as a visible marker of their status as hibakusha, or "bomb-affected people."

Social stigma. The hibakusha faced discrimination and stigma in Japanese society. Some were ostracized because of fears about radiation exposure, while others were seen as damaged or unlucky. This social isolation added to their suffering and made it difficult for them to rebuild their lives.

Intergenerational trauma. The trauma of the bombing was passed down to subsequent generations. Children and grandchildren of hibakusha often experienced anxiety, depression, and a sense of vulnerability. The legacy of Hiroshima continues to shape the lives of those who were directly and indirectly affected by the bombing.

9. The World's Awakening: Atomic Power and Moral Responsibility

There is nothing to do but admit the tremendous power of this inhuman bomb.

A new era of warfare. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima ushered in a new era of warfare, one in which the destructive power of weapons threatened the very survival of humanity. The world was forced to confront the implications of atomic power and the need for international cooperation to prevent nuclear war.

The nuclear arms race. The bombing of Hiroshima triggered a nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to the development of ever more powerful and destructive weapons. The world lived under the shadow of nuclear annihilation for decades, a constant reminder of the potential for self-destruction.

The call for disarmament. The survivors of Hiroshima became powerful advocates for nuclear disarmament, calling on world leaders to abolish these weapons and prevent future tragedies. Their voices resonated around the globe, inspiring a movement for peace and justice. The world must never forget the lessons of Hiroshima, and must work tirelessly to create a future free from the threat of nuclear war.

Last updated: April 11, 2025