Hibakusha’s Testimonies

Hibakusha Testimonies

Times: Survivors of the Atomic Blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki share their stories

This source explores the profound historical, moral, and personal impact of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. It emphasizes how the bombings marked a turning point in global history—the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, and the start of the nuclear age—raising deep ethical concerns about human capacity for destruction. While global leaders grappled with the geopolitical consequences, survivors faced the tragedy firsthand. Their survival preserved critical personal testimonies of the bombings’ human cost. The paragraph also introduces photographer Haruka Sakaguchi’s contemporary project to document these survivors’ experiences and messages for future generations, highlighting the importance of preserving living memory as the world reflects on the bombings’ anniversaries.

Hibakusha Stories: Working Together For a Nuclear-Free World

This source describes the efforts of Hibakusha Stories, an organization that brings Hibakusha and others impacted by nuclear weapons to New York City to share their personal experiences. The program provides participants with financial support, housing, and travel expenses, recognizing the value of their testimonies. Individuals selected as Fellows are chosen for their exceptional ability to connect with and educate young audiences, emphasizing the importance of passing on the human lessons of nuclear warfare to future generations.

Soka Gakkai International Action for Peace

Testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Women Speak Out for Peace

Hibakusha Testimony from Hiroshima — Keiko Ogura

These sources presents testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors, documented by the Soka Gakkai International Action for Peace. The first source is from Women’s Peace Committee, featuring original artwork drawn from memory by hibakusha to convey the horrors of the bombings. The second source is a highlight is the 2023 testimony of Keiko Ogura, a Hiroshima survivor who shared her story at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of hibakusha voices in nuclear disarmament. Her account, captured in a 50-minute English-language video, is also featured in the free book Hiroshima and Nagasaki: That We Never Forget, a collection of over 50 survivor stories compiled by the Soka Gakkai Youth Division. The videos include subtitles in six languages, ensuring global accessibility and reinforcing the importance of peace education.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Testimony of Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors)

This passage highlights Japan’s ongoing commitment to supporting Hibakusha—the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings—by helping them share their personal stories globally. Recognizing its unique history as the only nation to suffer atomic bomb attacks, Japan seeks to educate the international community and younger generations about the tragic consequences of nuclear weapons. In collaboration with the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the United Nations, the Japanese government has undertaken efforts to translate survivors’ testimonies into English and other languages, reinforcing its role in the global movement for nuclear disarmament and peace education.

Asahi Shinbun: Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Messages from Hibakusha

This source introduces the website “Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—Messages from Hibakusha,” created by The Asahi Shimbun, a prominent Japanese newspaper. The site provides firsthand written accounts from atomic bomb survivors, aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles hibakusha face and to amplify their calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Launched in Japanese in November 2010, the project is part of a broader effort to support the global anti-nuclear movement by preserving and sharing the deeply personal and powerful testimonies of those who lived through the bombings. The passage encourages readers to engage with these stories to better understand the human reality behind nuclear warfare.

PBS Hibakusha: Stories of Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

This source provides a brief but powerful overview of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, noting that 118,000 people died instantly, with the death toll reaching 210,000 by the end of that year. It highlights the lasting, multigenerational impact of the bombings, underscoring how survivors (hibakusha) continue to experience the consequences nearly 80 years later, as 2025 marks the anniversary of this world-altering event. The passage serves as a somber reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare and the enduring need to remember and learn from history.

AtomicBombMuseum.org: Testimonies of the A-Bomb Victims and Voices of Support

This collection of testimonies, edited by A-bomb survivor Hitoshi Takayama, compiles firsthand accounts of the Hiroshima bombing and reflections on its global significance. In the introduction, Takayama emphasizes the profound moral and existential implications of nuclear weapons, warning that they threaten the survival of humanity. He argues that the theory of nuclear deterrence has exacerbated the arms race and criticizes the global community’s inadequate response to the hibakusha’s efforts to share their experiences. The volume highlights the urgent need for international understanding, disarmament, and civic responsibility in shaping nuclear policy. This source is valuable for understanding the emotional, ethical, and political perspectives of survivors and offers a deeply human context for discussions of nuclear warfare.

Nobel Peace Prize: Nihon Hidankyo Lecture

Nobel Prize lecture given by Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2024 Nihon Hidankyo, Oslo, 10 December 2024.

Atomicarchive.com: The Voice of Hibakusha

This source presents firsthand eyewitness accounts from survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, known as hibakusha. Produced collaboratively by the Hiroshima Peace Cultural Center and Japan’s national broadcaster NHK, the testimonies are part of the Hiroshima Witness program and were translated into English by Japanese college students. The narratives offer deeply personal and emotional recollections of the bombing’s immediate and long-term impacts, making the collection a powerful resource for understanding the human cost of nuclear warfare. The project reflects an educational and cross-cultural effort to ensure the global transmission of these critical historical experiences.

Downwinders Testimonies

Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement: Utah and America’s “Downwinders” History With Mary Dickson

This source summarizes an episode of the podcast Speak Your Piece (Season 4, Episode 12), released on April 11, 2022, featuring an interview with Mary Dickson, a Downwinder and thyroid cancer survivor. Hosted by Brad Westwood, the episode explores Dickson’s personal experiences and investigative work on the health and environmental impacts of U.S. nuclear testing, primarily at the Nevada Test Site, located 300 miles from Salt Lake City. Her account ties local Utah history to the broader narrative of Cold War-era nuclear policy (1947–1991), shedding light on the lasting consequences for communities exposed to fallout. The episode combines personal testimony, journalism, and historical research, and was co-produced by Brad Westwood and Chelsey Zamir, with technical support from the Utah State Library Recording Studio. The included photo of observers watching a nuclear test blast comes from the “Downwinders of Utah Archive,” housed at the University of Utah.

International Campaign for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons: Surviving Nuclear Testing

This source reflects on the ongoing legacy of nuclear weapons testing, noting that the last above-ground test occurred in 1980 and the last underground test in 2017. Despite the passage of time, those affected—survivors and impacted communities—continue to remember the physical and emotional toll of these tests. Their remembrance fuels a global struggle for justice, as they advocate not only for their own communities but also in solidarity with other survivors of nuclear testing worldwide. The passage emphasizes the enduring human cost of nuclear weapons development and invites readers to learn more about these powerful personal stories.

Overall Testimonies

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