Sensei, please give me water September 24, 17:57

"Teacher, please water"

in vanish such a voice, 13-year-old girl who stopped by the chance pass by the teacher.

The teacher couldn't even give water, he could only hold the girl's hand.

A few days later, the girl died alone.

(International Department, Kouji Ekuan)

Masako

I (the author) was born and raised in Tokyo.

However, my father, who spent his childhood in Hiroshima, told me many times since I was little about my father's sister who died in the atomic bomb.

Her name, my aunt, is Masako Ekuan (Ekuan Hiroko).

He died at the age of 13.

I haven't met him, but for the sake of familiarity, I would like to call him "Masako-san" here.

While cleaning up the tiles ...

Seventy-five years ago, Masako, a second-year student at Yamanaka High School in Hiroshima City, participated in the work of demolishing the building in preparation for an air raid and was cleaning up the roof tiles of her house under the scorching sun.

However, the atomic bomb was dropped only about 1 km away from it, killing more than 300 female students, including Masako.

My grandmother and fathers were saved by being evacuated to Fukuyama City, which was far from Hiroshima City at that time.

Masako died alone without seeing her family's face.

This was all that my grandmothers knew about Masako's end.

A picture of Masako was displayed on the altar of my father's parents' house.

Masako is smiling with big eyes.

From an early age, I was anxious and staring at it.

Looking at the picture, my father said, "Hey Masako was a polite and kind person to her family."

Every August, I remembered Masako-san.

However, my grandmother who knew about that time died when I was in junior high school, and as I went on to high school and university and worked as a reporter, I gradually became less likely to think about Masako.

Mizuki sensei

It was only four years ago, almost 10 years after I became a reporter.

When I visited Hiroshima on a trip, I joined Masako in front of the memorial monument at Peace Park.

At that time, a certain thought suddenly passed.

Is it okay to stop thinking about Masako as it is?

When I noticed, I was using my mobile phone to find out about Yamanaka High School, which was the victim of the atomic bomb.

And one newspaper article caught my eye.

"Tears in memory of the students, Takashi Yamanaka, former teacher Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Day"

The article tells us that graduates of a younger school for girls hold a memorial service every year at the place where the girls were exposed to the bomb, and the teachers at that time also participated in it.

The teacher is still alive.

At the same time as being surprised at that, you may know Masako-san.

With that in mind, I immediately called the school mentioned in the article to tell him about the situation and asked him to give me the teacher's contact information.

The teacher's name was Eie Mizuki (98 years old, maiden name).

Sensei, please give me water

"Eh, Eikuan-san?"

Mizuki-sensei looked surprised when he told me my name on the phone.

My aunt was a female student at Yamanaka High School.

He died when he was in the second grade.

When I told him that, the teacher clearly remembered that time.

While restraining my motivation, I promised to meet him soon, and a few days after the phone call, I visited Dr. Mizuki's house in Fukuyama City.

Standing at the front door was a woman with an impressive gentle smile.

The teacher invited me into the house, guided me to the room, and slowly began to talk about the time.

Mr. Mizuki was in the neighborhood of Mr. Masako.

On the day the atomic bomb was dropped, Dr. Mizuki, who was in the suburbs of Hiroshima City and escaped the atomic bombing, entered the city two days later to confirm the safety of the students.

In the hospital I visited first, countless bodies and injured people lay down, and voices such as "Mizu" and "It hurts" were heard everywhere.

At that time, I heard a girl's screaming voice at my feet.

"Sensei, Sensei, Mizuki Sensei. It's Andesu."

When Mr. Mizuki was surprised, Masako was lying on the floor.

I didn't see any injuries or burns, but I could see my throat fluttering.

"Please give me some water, water. I have a pain in my chest."

A voice that appeals to Dr. Mizuki with a fading voice.

Although I felt very annoyed that I couldn't do anything, I had to look for other students, and the teacher had to ask a young nurse who came nearby to leave the place.

"Because I

'll come again, please

cheer up."

Finally, he said, and gently held her hand.

However, two days later, when the teacher passed in front of the hospital again and looked at the list of dead people, there was Masako's name.

"I can't forget Ekuan-san that day."

Mr. Mizuki who leaked so.

I left her, leaving behind the words, "I'll come again."

It seemed very regrettable about that.

Children who died alone

When I finished listening and said goodbye to the teacher, he clasped my hand tightly.

About 70 years ago, when I held Masako's hand, there was a pleasant warmth in her hand.

For the first time, I felt like I was able to feel Masako right next to me.

I decided to find out about the time when Masako had to die.

And I decided to participate in the memorial service of the girls' school every year.

There were figures of bereaved families and classmates who were both aged.

When I talked to a woman who lost her sister, she said, "I've always regretted not being able to water my dying sister."

In addition, it is said that the classmates who happened to escape the atomic bombing face the reality that they survived and always join hands with their classmates every year.

While investigating, I also learned about the existence of memorial notes compiled by classmates of female students.

There is such a description in it.

"Mom, I don't want to die.

I was

studying hard."

"If I

die, don't

cry."

Female students who left behind saying so to their parents while they were about to die.

On the other hand, there were many children like Masako who could not meet their parents and died alone.

He was burned all over his body, suffering from pain, and was waiting for his parents to come to help.

Parents seemed to be frantic and searched for their children.

In Hiroshima, it is said that about 6,000 students were killed in the same way as this female student.

August 6

If the atomic bomb had not been dropped, I might have had a good time with my family.

I may have been in love.

And maybe he had a child and had a happy family.

Masako was a beloved daughter so much that her grandmother said, "If Masako was alive, my life would have changed."

He passed away without seeing his grandmother's face.

I was struck by the countless numbers of similar schoolgirls.

I also visited the girls' school memorial service on August 6th this year.

This day was also a hot day with strong sunlight.

A scene came to me when I stood in front of the memorial monument built at the place where they were bombed.

Under the scorching sun, they are cleaning up the roof tiles of their house.

I can tell, I want to tell

I am 34 years old now.

Of course, I don't know about war.

Not long ago, I thought that only those who had experienced the war could tell that.

However, for me, who listened to Dr. Mizuki and touched on the short lives of those who died unfortunately, the tragedy caused by the atomic bomb is no longer just a "past."

Now, I can tell them about them, and I want to tell them.