Q & A page03

# Questions to Hibakusha (Miyoko Matsubara answers) #
* What ideas did you have during the war? Were you against the war? In those days I believed Japan would win the war. The government propaganda said Japan could surely get a victory, and didn't inform us of the true aspect of the war. I had no idea to oppose it. But with the year of 1945, air-raid alerts and warnings were repeated. Every time I heard the weird sounds, I longed for the end of the war. * When the bomb was dropped, how was it? And what did you feel? I was standing there and looking at the moment of the explosion. I tried to lay down on my stomach in a hurry, but it was too late. I had been blown away by the blast. For a while I had lost consciousness, affected by its tremendous sound. When I came to myself and looked around, the city which had flashed up was pitch dark with a cloud of dust hanging over. I couldn't see an inch ahead though I strained my eyes. Then I found my face, hands and legs severely burned by the heat rays. Especially the right half of my body was seriously burned. Stripped of my clothes, I was standing only with a white shirt and a pair of panties. The scene is beyond words. I was indeed scared. There was nothing that I could understand. * When did you know Hiroshima was attacked by the atomic bomb? Formally it was reported on a Japanese newspaper of August 11th. Personally it was a couple of days later after the dropping of the bomb that I knew it was an atomic one. * How was the city of Hiroshima immediately after the explosion? It was so dreadful a condition that I don't know how to express it. I thought how terrible!, and it was like a hell. * What did you think when you saw a river with dead bodies floating? Numerous victims in the river were looking for help with their face surfaced on the water and with their hands grasping at the air. Dead bodies were also floating up and sinking down among them. Looking at the scene, I thought why on earth this accident happened. * What was the most horrible thing you experienced being hit by the bomb? I really felt horrible when I saw seriously burned victims desperately fleeing away with their hair disheveled. * Do you have bodily pain now? Yes. I suffer scar pains from my fingers and breast cancer for which I was operated on. Recently I feel pain from my burned knees and ankle joints. * What are the present suffering of the victims? We are always afraid of having cancer because of the radiation exposure. When we hear a friend died of a cancer, we began to wander and worry if it's our turn next. There were victims who couldn't get married and had to live alone. Some of them consider it was better to die soon and not to trouble others. * Because of the atomic bomb, you lost your family and friends. Do you hate Americans or bomb makers? Surely I had a hatred just after the attack, but I came to realize I mustn't give hatred for hatred. It is a war and an atomic bomb we must detest. I want those people involved and everybody to know clearly the cruelty and horror of an atomic bomb. To overcome my hatred, I keep on telling my terrible experience. * What do Hiroshima citizens think of the U.S. and people concerned? It depends on the person. There are many people whose family members, friends and beloved ones were killed. Their lives since then fell to pieces. Some of them still now may have such hatred. As for me, I have overcome my hatred in order to unite with others for peace. * What is the most regrettable thing? I feel sorry that I couldn't help my friend in that hellish condition and I couldn't offer more help to my relatives at their death. * What do you think of the current Hiroshima? No one in those days could such a reconstructed city. I believe that it is a result of people's courage and effort. * Where do you want visitors to see in Hiroshima? I recommend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic-bomb Dome. Once a war occurs, such a disastrous nuclear weapon can be used. The Dome is a symbol of our wish to abolish nuclear weapons. * What is Hiroshima proud of worldwide? It is our united movement of anti-nuke and anti-war. I believe the third nuclear weapon was not used on human beings, because the survivors taking the lead Japanese people appealed anti-nuclear arms to the world. Story of Miyoko Matsubara * If a war occurs in the future, do you think a nuclear bomb would be used ? I think it would be used. This is the start of a nuclear war. That is why I am involved in a movement to eliminate nuclear arms. * What do you think of a civil war and a nuclear testing now going on? I can't ignore them. In order that we, human beings, survive, it should not be allowed. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum <The Nuclear Age> * What do you think our generation should convey to the next? Hibakusha are getting older year by year. It is becoming very difficult for us to tell our experiences. With no more war victims like us, I'd like you, grownups in the 21st century, to succeed to our wishes of abolishing nuclear arms on behalf of us. I am very pleased if you convey the following three points to people in the world. 1) A disastrous event that happened on Aug. 6th in 1945 in Hiroshima. 2) Nuclear weapons and human beings cannot coexist. The world will never be peaceful as long as nuclear arms exist. 3) A spirit of Hiroshima expressed in the inscription of the Cenotaph for the Atomic-bomb Victims, "Let all the souls here rest in peace. For we shall not repeat the evil."

# Questions to Hibakusha (Miyoko Matsubara answers) #

* What ideas did you have during the war? Were you against the war?
In those days I believed Japan would win the war. The government propaganda said Japan could surely get a victory, and didn't inform us of the true aspect of the war. I had no idea to oppose it. But with the year of 1945, air-raid alerts and warnings were repeated. Every time I heard the weird sounds, I longed for the end of the war.

* When the bomb was dropped, how was it? And what did you feel?
I was standing there and looking at the moment of the explosion. I tried to lay down on my stomach in a hurry, but it was too late. I had been blown away by the blast. For a while I had lost consciousness, affected by its tremendous sound.
When I came to myself and looked around, the city which had flashed up was pitch dark with a cloud of dust hanging over. I couldn't see an inch ahead though I strained my eyes. Then I found my face, hands and legs severely burned by the heat rays. Especially the right half of my body was seriously burned. Stripped of my clothes, I was standing only with a white shirt and a pair of panties. The scene is beyond words. I was indeed scared. There was nothing that I could understand.

* When did you know Hiroshima was attacked by the atomic bomb?
Formally it was reported on a Japanese newspaper of August 11th. Personally it was a couple of days later after the dropping of the bomb that I knew it was an atomic one.

* How was the city of Hiroshima immediately after the explosion?
It was so dreadful a condition that I don't know how to express it. I thought how terrible!, and it was like a hell.

* What did you think when you saw a river with dead bodies floating?
Numerous victims in the river were looking for help with their face surfaced on the water and with their hands grasping at the air. Dead bodies were also floating up and sinking down among them. Looking at the scene, I thought why on earth this accident happened.

* What was the most horrible thing you experienced being hit by the bomb?
I really felt horrible when I saw seriously burned victims desperately fleeing away with their hair disheveled.

* Do you have bodily pain now?
Yes. I suffer scar pains from my fingers and breast cancer for which I was operated on. Recently I feel pain from my burned knees and ankle joints.

* What are the present suffering of the victims?
We are always afraid of having cancer because of the radiation exposure. When we hear a friend died of a cancer, we began to wander and worry if it's our turn next.
There were victims who couldn't get married and had to live alone. Some of them consider it was better to die soon and not to trouble others.

* Because of the atomic bomb, you lost your family and friends. Do you hate Americans or bomb makers?
Surely I had a hatred just after the attack, but I came to realize I mustn't give hatred for hatred. It is a war and an atomic bomb we must detest. I want those people involved and everybody to know clearly the cruelty and horror of an atomic bomb. To overcome my hatred, I keep on telling my terrible experience.

* What do Hiroshima citizens think of the U.S. and people concerned?
It depends on the person. There are many people whose family members, friends and beloved ones were killed. Their lives since then fell to pieces. Some of them still now may have such hatred. As for me, I have overcome my hatred in order to unite with others for peace.

* What is the most regrettable thing?
I feel sorry that I couldn't help my friend in that hellish condition and I couldn't offer more help to my relatives at their death.

* What do you think of the current Hiroshima?
No one in those days could such a reconstructed city. I believe that it is a result of people's courage and effort.

* Where do you want visitors to see in Hiroshima?
I recommend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic-bomb Dome. Once a war occurs, such a disastrous nuclear weapon can be used. The Dome is a symbol of our wish to abolish nuclear weapons.

* What is Hiroshima proud of worldwide?
It is our united movement of anti-nuke and anti-war. I believe the third nuclear weapon was not used on human beings, because the survivors taking the lead Japanese people appealed anti-nuclear arms to the world.

Story of Miyoko Matsubara

* If a war occurs in the future, do you think a nuclear bomb would be used ?
I think it would be used. This is the start of a nuclear war. That is why I am involved in a movement to eliminate nuclear arms.

* What do you think of a civil war and a nuclear testing now going on?
I can't ignore them. In order that we, human beings, survive, it should not be allowed.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum <The Nuclear Age>

* What do you think our generation should convey to the next?
Hibakusha are getting older year by year. It is becoming very difficult for us to tell our experiences. With no more war victims like us, I'd like you, grownups in the 21st century, to succeed to our wishes of abolishing nuclear arms on behalf of us.
I am very pleased if you convey the following three points to people in the world.
1) A disastrous event that happened on Aug. 6th in 1945 in Hiroshima.
2) Nuclear weapons and human beings cannot coexist. The world will never be peaceful as long as nuclear arms exist.
3) A spirit of Hiroshima expressed in the inscription of the Cenotaph for the Atomic-bomb Victims, "Let all the souls here rest in peace. For we shall not repeat the evil."

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