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Junko MorimotoJapanese writer who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
Country:
 Japan |
Content:
- Childhood in the Shadow of War
- The Day the World Changed
- Surviving the Aftermath
- A City of Broken Bodies
- The Long Shadow of Radiation
- The Haunting Legacy of Discrimination
- Rebuilding a Shattered City
- Leaving Hiroshima
- Lessons for the World
- Beyond Hiroshima
Childhood in the Shadow of War
Junko Morimoto, a Japanese author who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, witnessed firsthand the horrors of that fateful day. On August 6, 1945, she was at home with her siblings, just 1.7 kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion.
The Day the World Changed
Morimoto vividly recalls the moment that changed her life forever. She had skipped school due to a stomach ache when she heard a loud noise outside. "I thought it was another B-29," she said. An instant later, her room was filled with blinding light, and she felt the house "falling on me."
Surviving the Aftermath
When Morimoto regained consciousness, her world was unrecognizable. Her sister was lying on top of her, her brother's body was covered in glass, and a chopstick had pierced through her eldest sister's lips. "Our house had collapsed," she said. "There was fire everywhere."
A City of Broken Bodies
As they stumbled through the streets, Morimoto witnessed the horrific sight of people with their skin hanging off their bodies. "We didn't realize then that it was their own skin," she said. Soldiers tended to the wounded, rubbing vegetable oil on their burns.
The Long Shadow of Radiation
Morimoto's father, who had been on his way to the barber, sustained minor burns. Yet, the true extent of the tragedy was evident in those who had been closer to the blast. Her brother carried shards of glass beneath his skin for decades, and eventually succumbed to cancer, possibly caused by the radiation.
The Haunting Legacy of Discrimination
As a hibakusha, a survivor of the atomic bombings, Morimoto faced stigma and discrimination. "There were rumors that hibakusha had 'dangerous genes' because of the radiation we had been exposed to," she said. Her school principal advised her against sharing her experiences, as it might hinder her chances of finding a husband.
Rebuilding a Shattered City
In the aftermath of the bombing, Morimoto's family built a makeshift shelter from the rubble of their former home. It took years to rebuild, and they faced challenges such as typhoons and floods.
Leaving Hiroshima
Four years after the bombing, Morimoto left Hiroshima for the first time to attend university. "Once I left Hiroshima, I liked the Kansai region so much that I never felt the urge to return," she said.
Lessons for the World
Reflecting on the tragedy, Morimoto emphasized the importance of remembering the lessons of Hiroshima. "We shouldn't let this story fade away," she said. "We need to know, understand, and remember the reason this war was fought. Otherwise, it will happen again, and the world is already on the brink of that."
Beyond Hiroshima
Morimoto relocated to Australia in the 1980s, where she published 14 children's books, including the acclaimed "My Hiroshima." She continued to advocate for nuclear disarmament, urging world leaders to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
