Candid Reflections from a Hiroshima Survivor

One of the many objectives of the Fulbright Memorial Fund program is for teachers to learn about the history of Japan. No meaningful discussion could be held on the subject without eventually addressing the topic of World War II. Today, we heard the account of a survivor from the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.

Before going any further, the purpose of the talk was not to point any fingers at the United States or to judge the actions of the United States.

Keijiro Matsushima, who survived the blast, was very clear in saying that he is still deeply angry about the bomb, but he said he harbors no anger toward the American people.

To go further, Mr. Matsushima said he can understand the popular argument that the United States dropped the atomic bomb to end the war sooner and save both American and Japanese lives. “Japan might have used the A bomb on New York, if we had had it,” he said.

At the same time, both Mr. Matsushima and another speaker acknowledged regret about some of Japan’s actions in World War II, including the invasion of neighboring Asian countries and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Mr. Matsushima’s main message from the talk was that all countries need to “learn from the past in order to form a more peaceful world.”

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Mr. Matsushima, who was 16 at the time, was at school when he saw two bombers flying over the city. He said he thought nothing of it and looked back at his textbook.

Suddenly, Mr. Matsushima said there was a flash of light, a shock wave and an intense wave of heat. “I thought I was thrown into a heat oven,” he said. Mr. Matsushima jumped under his desk, which is when he heard a loud explosion, and then he said everything became black like midnight. Finally, he said everything grew quiet.

Even though the school was less than two miles from where the bomb was dropped, Mr. Matsushima and his classmates survived, but he said most of the city was leveled by the blast. Tens of thousands of people died.

After witnessing the destruction for himself, Mr. Matsushima said he thought it would be difficult for Japan to win the war against a country that had such a powerful weapon, but he said he still didn't think Japan would ever surrender because he had always been taught that.

Three days later, the United States dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Six days after the detonation over Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered.

Mr. Matsushima said he believes he was spared from dying so that he can continue to share his
experience and, hopefully, help prevent another atomic bomb from ever being dropped again.

Note: The purpose of this blog entry was not to judge the bombing of Hiroshima but merely to share a first-hand account from somebody who lived through the experience. From my perspective, it was moving and incredible to hear someone talk about an incident that I’ve only read about in books.