Interviews
Other family members not as lucky
Perhaps at this point I should mention my maternal side, they lived in Furue which is, I think, approximately three miles from ground zero, and probably south of the ground zero position. And they were basically farmers. They were farming at that time.
On that particular day, my grandparents, my maternal grandparents, grandfather, grandmother, and also my youngest uncle in that family, (that would be my mother’s youngest brother), the three of them took their produce and went into the city to sell. Although I don't know [their] exact location when the bomb exploded, but they must have been extremely close. My grandmother’s body was never recovered, she just disappeared. My grandfather was severely injured and somehow made it back to Furue only to die a few days later. My uncle, he said he was—I spoke to him in the past—he said that he was thrown into the river. There were many, many rivers in Hiroshima. He was thrown into the river, which probably saved his life. But he was severely burned on both of his legs.
Date: September 3, 2019
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Masako Miki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Hearing anti-American war propaganda from a teacher
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
The hardships of life in Japan during World War II
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
Experiences during World War II
(1918-2004) Interned in Slocan during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community.
Anti-Japanese sentiment at the time of World War II
(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada
The impact of Pearl Harbor on his family
(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada
Social activities in Tashme
(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto
Choice to move east or go to Japan
(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto
Undergraduate studies interrupted following Pearl Harbor
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
Difficulty getting work during World War II
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
Difference between experiences of youth and older people in WWII camps
(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.
Escaping to a small village in the mountains during the World War II (Spanish)
(b. 1937) Professional journalist
Father in camp but learning from history books
Giant Robot co-founder and publisher
Fun at concentration camp
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.