Family experience I want to convey Standing wall of time August 4th 12:06
When a 4-month-old baby was on a bench at Hiroshima Station and had his mother change his diaper.
Suddenly there was a flash of light in the sky.
"There was a fire tornado above the station
.
"
The mother who spoke is 99 years old.
She also had a hard time remembering what happened that day.
(Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter Yuki Fukushima)
“Family successor” system begins
The aging of the A-bomb survivors is progressing, and the average age is 84.53 years old as of the end of March this year.
It is 0.59 years older than the previous year.
The Hiroshima Peace Culture Center, which operates the Atomic Bomb Museum, aims to hand down the damage caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima to the next generation. Every year, we commission a ``A-bomb survivor storyteller'' to convey the experiences of a specific hibakusha.
In April this year, 34 "witnesses" aged 79 to 94 and 156 "traders" aged 27 to 84 were commissioned.
In addition to this, a new “Family Successor” system started this year.
It is hoped that this will lead to the discovery of new testimonies that have not been talked about in public until now, as the survivors' families tell the stories of the survivors on their behalf.
May this year.
I heard voices filled with expectations and a sense of mission from those who participated in the briefing, saying, "I'm happy to be able to share my family's experiences," and "I need to share experiences that only I, as a family member, can hear." .
On the other hand, I was worried about the woman who was heading for the exit while dropping her shoulders and looking down, so I called out to her.
“I just found out today that I can’t even apply,” she said.
A-bomb survivors who gave up on applying
Ms. Michiko Kono (77) from Saiki Ward, Hiroshima City.
She was born in March 1945 in what is now Naka Ward, Hiroshima City
. Her house, where she lived when she was born, was right in front of what is now the NHK Hiroshima Broadcasting Station.
It was located on what is now Peace Boulevard, about 4 kilometers across the center of Hiroshima city from east to west.
However, shortly after Ms. Kono was born, her house was demolished to prepare for an air raid and demolish the building to prevent the spread of fire. I moved.
While many cities have been hit by air raids, it wouldn't be strange for Hiroshima, which has prospered as a military city, to be attacked at any time.
Young Kono and her mother were evacuated to her father's hometown in present-day Higashi-Hiroshima, about 50 kilometers from Hiroshima.
On August 6th, her father was also absent from work, and her family of three headed for Hiroshima Station early in the morning.
I was planning to take the 7:00 am train.
However, the train was significantly delayed and did not come even at 8 o'clock.
Her mother decided to put Kono on the platform bench and change her diaper while she waited for her train.
At that time.
Suddenly there was a flash of light in the sky.
Atomic bombs were dropped.
Michiko Kono
: My mother said that when the atomic bomb exploded, something like a bright red cylinder fell between the tracks. His face turned black from soot, and he was crying with his eyes shining.”
Thanks to the backrest of the bench facing the hypocenter, he was not exposed to the heat rays and was not injured.
The mother suffered burns to her neck and face, and her father to his back, but they all survived.
Ms. Michiko Kono:
"I heard that a 2-year-old boy who was being carried on his back by his mother at Hiroshima Station died of burns. I, too, felt that if it weren't for that backrest, I would have suffered the same fate. A fine line." is not it"
The Kono family evacuated to a parade ground near the station.
As time passed, people walking from the direction of the hypocenter, dying of severe burns, passed away.
It was like hell.
Mr. Kono, who was young, has no memory of himself, but he says that his mother often told him about the situation at the time.
The only time her mother actively shared her experiences was with her family.
I want to share my family's experiences
Even if I have no memory of it, I want to work for peace as one of the hibakusha.
After raising her children and turning 50, Ms. Kono began volunteering as a guide to the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum.
Since five years ago, it has been certified by the city and has been working as a "trader" to pass on the experiences of specific A-bomb survivors.
Under such circumstances, Mr. Kono learned that a “family successor” system will be established from this year.
She immediately made her way to the venue for the briefing.
Ms. Michiko Kono
“I thought I was finally able to do it.
In order to become a family heir, first of all, I will ask about the experience of the atomic bombing of my family.
Then put it into a manuscript.
The person in charge of the city will confirm the content of the manuscript with the A-bomb survivor.
To pass on the truth to future generations.
Then, let's move on to lecture practice.
It is expected that it will take about two years to be approved.
I couldn't even apply
The mother who changed Mr. Kono's diaper on the platform of Hiroshima Station that day is now 99 years old.
She has dementia and is now unable to recall her A-bomb experience.
Ms. Kono has recorded in detail the experiences she heard from her mother.
However, I found out that I could not apply because the system requires city officials to directly confirm the content of the manuscript with the A-bomb survivors.
If I am not certified as a "Family Traditioner," I will not be able to receive commissions from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Center and share my mother's experiences with a large number of people, including students on school excursions.
I can speak privately, but I don't have the opportunity to speak to many people.
Ms. Michiko Kono:
“I was really disappointed and discouraged.
race against time
Even for those who were able to apply, the wall of time stands in their way.
On the first day of the workshop in July, there was a young man sitting in the front row.
Kento Ogata (31) from Higashi Ward, Hiroshima City.
The average age of applicants is 60.1 years old.
He is the only applicant in his 30s among those who started working after retirement.
Ogata works as a caregiver.
On the day I met him, he had just finished the night shift and had only a few hours of sleep, and was enthusiastically receiving training.
Mr. Ogata applied because he wanted to tell the story of his grandfather, Mr. Shozo.
Shozo was 16 years old at the time, 77 years ago.
The day after the atomic bomb was dropped, he walked around the center of Hiroshima to find his missing relatives.
Kento often visits his grandfather's house and records his experiences so as not to miss anything.
"At that time, the area in front of Gokoku Shrine was full of corpses
.
"
My head was on its side, too."
Until now, Mr. Shozo has rarely talked about his unforgettable experiences even if he wanted to.
He said he would tell his grandson Kento.
Mr. Kento Ogata
"If I don't listen, I think this story will be buried and lost, so only I, my grandson, can do it."
However, Shozo is now 93 years old.
Kento accepts that time is limited.
Mr. Kento Ogata
“Everyone has had different experiences, and I think there are stories and episodes that should never be overlooked. I would like to listen carefully to what they have to say and talk to people in the future.”
The "family successor" system leads to leaving valuable testimonies that can be passed down only by family members.
While there are voices of anticipation, there are also voices of lament, "If only it had started a little earlier."
How to pass on family experiences
Mr. Kono gave up on being a “family successor”.
I appealed to the children at a junior high school I visited as a “traditioner” of the experiences of other A-bomb survivors.
“Are there any of you who have family members who have been affected by the atomic bombing? Please listen to your grandparents’ stories. please"
Even if I could not tell many people about my mother's experience as a "family successor," I was searching for a way to hand down the experiences my mother had told me over and over again, as I had no memory of the atomic bombing. I'm here.
Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter
Yuki Fukushima
Joined in 2021
Responsible for coverage of economic topics familiar to daily life and the atomic bombing