it’s wonderful to be here with you today to explore the experiences of the
to explore the experiences of the
to explore the experiences of the Nagasaki a survivor’s of the Nagasaki
Nagasaki a survivor’s of the Nagasaki
Nagasaki a survivor’s of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and the importance of
atomic bombing and the importance of
atomic bombing and the importance of their stories to our lives today
their stories to our lives today
their stories to our lives today my experience with Nagasaki goes back a
my experience with Nagasaki goes back a
my experience with Nagasaki goes back a long way when I was 16 I spent a year in
long way when I was 16 I spent a year in
long way when I was 16 I spent a year in Japan as an international exchange
Japan as an international exchange
Japan as an international exchange student living with a Japanese host
student living with a Japanese host
student living with a Japanese host family and attending a very strict
family and attending a very strict
family and attending a very strict Japanese girls high school as part of my
Japanese girls high school as part of my
Japanese girls high school as part of my time there I was invited by the senior
time there I was invited by the senior
time there I was invited by the senior class of my school 350 girls to join
class of my school 350 girls to join
class of my school 350 girls to join them on their annual week-long field
them on their annual week-long field
them on their annual week-long field trip that year it was to Japan
trip that year it was to Japan
trip that year it was to Japan southernmost island of Kyushu so on that
southernmost island of Kyushu so on that
southernmost island of Kyushu so on that trip one day I found myself at the
trip one day I found myself at the
trip one day I found myself at the original Nagasaki atomic bomb Museum on
original Nagasaki atomic bomb Museum on
original Nagasaki atomic bomb Museum on the fifth floor of Nagasaki cultural
the fifth floor of Nagasaki cultural
the fifth floor of Nagasaki cultural hall just steps up the hill from the
hall just steps up the hill from the
hall just steps up the hill from the atomic bomb hypocenter
atomic bomb hypocenter
atomic bomb hypocenter and there I stood arm in arm with my
and there I stood arm in arm with my
and there I stood arm in arm with my Japanese friends staring into glass
Japanese friends staring into glass
Japanese friends staring into glass cases with photographs and artifacts
cases with photographs and artifacts
cases with photographs and artifacts that showed unimaginable destruction
that showed unimaginable destruction
that showed unimaginable destruction physical injury whole body burns and the
physical injury whole body burns and the
physical injury whole body burns and the effects of radiation to people’s bodies
effects of radiation to people’s bodies
effects of radiation to people’s bodies I was terrified and that experience made
I was terrified and that experience made
I was terrified and that experience made a lasting impression
a lasting impression
a lasting impression fast forward to 1986 I was living in
fast forward to 1986 I was living in
fast forward to 1986 I was living in Washington DC and I went to here Anagha
Washington DC and I went to here Anagha
Washington DC and I went to here Anagha sake survivor speak his name is tani
sake survivor speak his name is tani
sake survivor speak his name is tani gucci Sumatera Taniguchi being his last
gucci Sumatera Taniguchi being his last
gucci Sumatera Taniguchi being his last name Taniguchi was 16 at the time of the
name Taniguchi was 16 at the time of the
name Taniguchi was 16 at the time of the bombing and I met him 41 years later
bombing and I met him 41 years later
bombing and I met him 41 years later when he was 57 standing before us his
when he was 57 standing before us his
when he was 57 standing before us his scars were hidden from public view and
scars were hidden from public view and
scars were hidden from public view and in a hushed voice he told us his story
in a hushed voice he told us his story
in a hushed voice he told us his story of horrendous suffering and lifelong
of horrendous suffering and lifelong
of horrendous suffering and lifelong injury
injury
injury ending with a quiet plea let there be no
ending with a quiet plea let there be no
ending with a quiet plea let there be no more Nagasaki and then by an unexpected
more Nagasaki and then by an unexpected
more Nagasaki and then by an unexpected series of events I became mr. Tony
series of events I became mr. Tony
series of events I became mr. Tony Gucci’s interpreter for the last two
Gucci’s interpreter for the last two
Gucci’s interpreter for the last two days of his time in DC this gave me a
days of his time in DC this gave me a
days of his time in DC this gave me a unique opportunity to spend a lot more
unique opportunity to spend a lot more
unique opportunity to spend a lot more time within many hours between and after
time within many hours between and after
time within many hours between and after his presentations so I heard his story
his presentations so I heard his story
his presentations so I heard his story in far more detail and was able to ask
in far more detail and was able to ask
in far more detail and was able to ask questions of him that I would have never
questions of him that I would have never
questions of him that I would have never been able to ask otherwise by the time I
been able to ask otherwise by the time I
been able to ask otherwise by the time I saw him off at the airport I had been
saw him off at the airport I had been
saw him off at the airport I had been more deeply and more personally impacted
more deeply and more personally impacted
more deeply and more personally impacted by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and I
by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and I
by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and I wanted to know more so I went to
wanted to know more so I went to
wanted to know more so I went to Nagasaki the following year and I met
Nagasaki the following year and I met
Nagasaki the following year and I met with mr. Tony guchi and other survivors
with mr. Tony guchi and other survivors
with mr. Tony guchi and other survivors and learned more about their lives they
and learned more about their lives they
and learned more about their lives they are known as he boxA atomic bomb
are known as he boxA atomic bomb
are known as he boxA atomic bomb affected people back in the United
affected people back in the United
affected people back in the United States for 16 years I thought about them
States for 16 years I thought about them
States for 16 years I thought about them often wondering how it would be for them
often wondering how it would be for them
often wondering how it would be for them as they grew older to look back on their
as they grew older to look back on their
as they grew older to look back on their lives split in two by nuclear war
lives split in two by nuclear war
lives split in two by nuclear war finally in 2003 I decided to try to
finally in 2003 I decided to try to
finally in 2003 I decided to try to answer that question and I spent 12
answer that question and I spent 12
answer that question and I spent 12 years travelling to Nagasaki
years travelling to Nagasaki
years travelling to Nagasaki interviewing survivors and atomic bomb
interviewing survivors and atomic bomb
interviewing survivors and atomic bomb specialists conducting research and
specialists conducting research and
specialists conducting research and writing my book Nagasaki life after
writing my book Nagasaki life after
writing my book Nagasaki life after nuclear war it tells the story of mr.
nuclear war it tells the story of mr.
nuclear war it tells the story of mr. Taniguchi and four other survivors and
Taniguchi and four other survivors and
Taniguchi and four other survivors and the profound and enduring impact of
the profound and enduring impact of
the profound and enduring impact of nuclear war on them and the people of
nuclear war on them and the people of
nuclear war on them and the people of their city over 70 years it was over
their city over 70 years it was over
their city over 70 years it was over those 12 years of working on the book
those 12 years of working on the book
those 12 years of working on the book that I came to understand that the
that I came to understand that the
that I came to understand that the survivors stories hold value and deep
survivors stories hold value and deep
survivors stories hold value and deep meaning for all of us for many people
meaning for all of us for many people
meaning for all of us for many people across the world the historical image
across the world the historical image
across the world the historical image of the atomic bombings of Japan is a
of the atomic bombings of Japan is a
of the atomic bombings of Japan is a mushroom cloud rising high over the city
mushroom cloud rising high over the city
mushroom cloud rising high over the city of Hiroshima or Nagasaki an image that
of Hiroshima or Nagasaki an image that
of Hiroshima or Nagasaki an image that doesn’t capture the other half of the
doesn’t capture the other half of the
doesn’t capture the other half of the story what happened to the people in
story what happened to the people in
story what happened to the people in those two cities beneath the atomic
those two cities beneath the atomic
those two cities beneath the atomic clouds but for Hibakusha excuse me for
clouds but for Hibakusha excuse me for
clouds but for Hibakusha excuse me for us the bombings are seen as abstract
us the bombings are seen as abstract
us the bombings are seen as abstract events of the past military actions that
events of the past military actions that
events of the past military actions that ended the Pacific War but for he boxa
ended the Pacific War but for he boxa
ended the Pacific War but for he boxa there is nothing abstract about nuclear
there is nothing abstract about nuclear
there is nothing abstract about nuclear war and for many the war has never ended
war and for many the war has never ended
war and for many the war has never ended in Nagasaki it was August 9th 1945
in Nagasaki it was August 9th 1945
in Nagasaki it was August 9th 1945 Nagasaki is a port city built around a
Nagasaki is a port city built around a
Nagasaki is a port city built around a long narrow bay with lush green hills
long narrow bay with lush green hills
long narrow bay with lush green hills surrounding it on three sides in 1945
surrounding it on three sides in 1945
surrounding it on three sides in 1945 the population of the city was 240,000
the population of the city was 240,000
the population of the city was 240,000 people to give you a sense of what life
people to give you a sense of what life
people to give you a sense of what life was like there during the war on that
was like there during the war on that
was like there during the war on that hot summer morning men women and
hot summer morning men women and
hot summer morning men women and children across the city were digging
children across the city were digging
children across the city were digging cave-like air-raid shelters into the
cave-like air-raid shelters into the
cave-like air-raid shelters into the hillsides hanging laundry lining up in
hillsides hanging laundry lining up in
hillsides hanging laundry lining up in rash at ration stations or scouring the
rash at ration stations or scouring the
rash at ration stations or scouring the hills for weeds to boil into soup for
hills for weeds to boil into soup for
hills for weeds to boil into soup for their families suddenly at 11:02 a.m. a
their families suddenly at 11:02 a.m. a
their families suddenly at 11:02 a.m. a super brilliant flash lit up the sky
super brilliant flash lit up the sky
super brilliant flash lit up the sky followed by a thunderous explosion equal
followed by a thunderous explosion equal
followed by a thunderous explosion equal to the power of 21,000 tons of TNT the
to the power of 21,000 tons of TNT the
to the power of 21,000 tons of TNT the blast force of that single bomb
blast force of that single bomb
blast force of that single bomb pulverized homes schools offices and
pulverized homes schools offices and
pulverized homes schools offices and hospitals for miles and caused people’s
hospitals for miles and caused people’s
hospitals for miles and caused people’s eyes to pop out of their sockets
eyes to pop out of their sockets
eyes to pop out of their sockets the heat released by the bomb reached
the heat released by the bomb reached
the heat released by the bomb reached hundreds of thousands degrees Fahrenheit
hundreds of thousands degrees Fahrenheit
hundreds of thousands degrees Fahrenheit Fahrenheit carbonizing the bodies of
Fahrenheit carbonizing the bodies of
Fahrenheit carbonizing the bodies of people and animals directly beneath the
people and animals directly beneath the
people and animals directly beneath the bomb melting iron steel and human skin
bomb melting iron steel and human skin
bomb melting iron steel and human skin causing massive fires to break out
causing massive fires to break out
causing massive fires to break out the city burning thousands more alive
the city burning thousands more alive
the city burning thousands more alive and though no one knew it yet larger
and though no one knew it yet larger
and though no one knew it yet larger doses of radiation than any human had
doses of radiation than any human had
doses of radiation than any human had ever experienced had penetrated their
ever experienced had penetrated their
ever experienced had penetrated their bodies the casualty count at the end of
bodies the casualty count at the end of
bodies the casualty count at the end of 1945 seventy four thousand people dead
1945 seventy four thousand people dead
1945 seventy four thousand people dead seventy five thousand more injured and
seventy five thousand more injured and
seventy five thousand more injured and irradiated sixteen-year-old tani Gucci
irradiated sixteen-year-old tani Gucci
irradiated sixteen-year-old tani Gucci was on his bicycle delivering mail in
was on his bicycle delivering mail in
was on his bicycle delivering mail in the hills of the northwest corner of the
the hills of the northwest corner of the
the hills of the northwest corner of the city just about a mile from the
city just about a mile from the
city just about a mile from the hypocenter a split second after the bomb
hypocenter a split second after the bomb
hypocenter a split second after the bomb detonated the tremendous force and
detonated the tremendous force and
detonated the tremendous force and searing heat of the blast rushed at him
searing heat of the blast rushed at him
searing heat of the blast rushed at him from behind blew him off his bicycle and
from behind blew him off his bicycle and
from behind blew him off his bicycle and slammed him face down onto the road
slammed him face down onto the road
slammed him face down onto the road still conscious
still conscious
still conscious taani Gucci looked up just enough to see
taani Gucci looked up just enough to see
taani Gucci looked up just enough to see a young child swept away like a fleck of
a young child swept away like a fleck of
a young child swept away like a fleck of dust his entire back was burned off
dust his entire back was burned off
dust his entire back was burned off taani Gucci should not have survived but
taani Gucci should not have survived but
taani Gucci should not have survived but he did lying face down fading in and out
he did lying face down fading in and out
he did lying face down fading in and out of consciousness for two days and two
of consciousness for two days and two
of consciousness for two days and two nights before his grandfather found him
nights before his grandfather found him
nights before his grandfather found him and over the next three months he was
and over the next three months he was
and over the next three months he was taken from one release station to the
taken from one release station to the
taken from one release station to the next in atomic ruins and outside the
next in atomic ruins and outside the
next in atomic ruins and outside the city but because there were no
city but because there were no
city but because there were no medications available the whole body the
medications available the whole body the
medications available the whole body the whole the burns that covered his back
whole the burns that covered his back
whole the burns that covered his back were treated with a mixture of machine
were treated with a mixture of machine
were treated with a mixture of machine oil and newspaper ashes in November 1945
oil and newspaper ashes in November 1945
oil and newspaper ashes in November 1945 he was finally taken to a Naval Hospital
he was finally taken to a Naval Hospital
he was finally taken to a Naval Hospital 22 miles north of the city and there he
22 miles north of the city and there he
22 miles north of the city and there he continued to lie face down for three
continued to lie face down for three
continued to lie face down for three years and four months his chest covered
years and four months his chest covered
years and four months his chest covered with bed stores bed sores creating holes
with bed stores bed sores creating holes
with bed stores bed sores creating holes so deep the doctors could see his
so deep the doctors could see his
so deep the doctors could see his beating heart every day he begged his
beating heart every day he begged his
beating heart every day he begged his nurses to let him die but to the
nurses to let him die but to the
nurses to let him die but to the disbelief of his medical staff
disbelief of his medical staff
disbelief of his medical staff he was eventually able to move his legs
he was eventually able to move his legs
he was eventually able to move his legs then sit then stand and finally walk but
then sit then stand and finally walk but
then sit then stand and finally walk but for the rest of his life taniguchi’s
for the rest of his life taniguchi’s
for the rest of his life taniguchi’s back has been covered with thick scar
back has been covered with thick scar
back has been covered with thick scar tissue and he has lived in constant pain
now back in Nagasaki within a few weeks
now back in Nagasaki within a few weeks of the bombing people had begun
of the bombing people had begun
of the bombing people had begun experiencing mysterious symptoms
experiencing mysterious symptoms
experiencing mysterious symptoms vomiting fevers dizziness bleeding gums
vomiting fevers dizziness bleeding gums
vomiting fevers dizziness bleeding gums and hair loss purple spots appeared all
and hair loss purple spots appeared all
and hair loss purple spots appeared all over their bodies many died in
over their bodies many died in
over their bodies many died in excruciating pain within a week of the
excruciating pain within a week of the
excruciating pain within a week of the the appearance of their first symptoms
the appearance of their first symptoms
the appearance of their first symptoms fear gripped the city no one knowing
fear gripped the city no one knowing
fear gripped the city no one knowing from one day to the next when their time
from one day to the next when their time
from one day to the next when their time would come from the grounds of his
would come from the grounds of his
would come from the grounds of his burned-out Hospital on a hill
burned-out Hospital on a hill
burned-out Hospital on a hill overlooking the atomic ruins one young
overlooking the atomic ruins one young
overlooking the atomic ruins one young doctor observed that the first people
doctor observed that the first people
doctor observed that the first people dying were those exposed were those
dying were those exposed were those
dying were those exposed were those closest to the hypocenter because they
closest to the hypocenter because they
closest to the hypocenter because they were exposed to the largest doses of
were exposed to the largest doses of
were exposed to the largest doses of radiation and as days and weeks passed
radiation and as days and weeks passed
radiation and as days and weeks passed people died in relative order according
people died in relative order according
people died in relative order according to their distance from the atomic blast
to their distance from the atomic blast
to their distance from the atomic blast the doctor called this phenomenon the
the doctor called this phenomenon the
the doctor called this phenomenon the concentric circles of death but the
concentric circles of death but the
concentric circles of death but the radiation effects didn’t stop there
radiation effects didn’t stop there
radiation effects didn’t stop there pregnant women whose fetuses had been
pregnant women whose fetuses had been
pregnant women whose fetuses had been exposed in utero suffered spontaneous
exposed in utero suffered spontaneous
exposed in utero suffered spontaneous abortions still births and infant deaths
abortions still births and infant deaths
abortions still births and infant deaths and many babies who survived birth
and many babies who survived birth
and many babies who survived birth developed physical and dependend mental
developed physical and dependend mental
developed physical and dependend mental disabilities people with visible scars
disabilities people with visible scars
disabilities people with visible scars and long-term hair loss stayed hidden in
and long-term hair loss stayed hidden in
and long-term hair loss stayed hidden in their homes for years afraid to be seen
their homes for years afraid to be seen
their homes for years afraid to be seen in public and then in 1955 years after
in public and then in 1955 years after
in public and then in 1955 years after the bombing leukemia and other cancer
the bombing leukemia and other cancer
the bombing leukemia and other cancer rates spiked killing countless more
rates spiked killing countless more
rates spiked killing countless more ibaka initiating a cycle of surging
ibaka initiating a cycle of surging
ibaka initiating a cycle of surging cancer rates that would last for decades
cancer rates that would last for decades
cancer rates that would last for decades parents exposed to radiation feared not
parents exposed to radiation feared not
parents exposed to radiation feared not only
only
only for their own lives but for their
for their own lives but for their
for their own lives but for their children’s both those exposed to
children’s both those exposed to
children’s both those exposed to radiation at the time of the bombing and
radiation at the time of the bombing and
radiation at the time of the bombing and those born even long after because of
those born even long after because of
those born even long after because of potential genetic effects from their
potential genetic effects from their
potential genetic effects from their parents exposure and because of this
parents exposure and because of this
parents exposure and because of this parents hovered over their children
parents hovered over their children
parents hovered over their children afraid that a simple cold or a
afraid that a simple cold or a
afraid that a simple cold or a stomachache might lead to severe illness
stomachache might lead to severe illness
stomachache might lead to severe illness or death adult haibach Shah experienced
or death adult haibach Shah experienced
or death adult haibach Shah experienced job and marriage discrimination from
job and marriage discrimination from
job and marriage discrimination from employers and potential marriage
employers and potential marriage
employers and potential marriage partners who rejected them because of
partners who rejected them because of
partners who rejected them because of their long term health prospects so many
their long term health prospects so many
their long term health prospects so many haibach Shah even those with with
haibach Shah even those with with
haibach Shah even those with with physical scars and those without tried
physical scars and those without tried
physical scars and those without tried their best to hide their identity as
their best to hide their identity as
their best to hide their identity as survivors sometimes even from their
survivors sometimes even from their
survivors sometimes even from their children and their spouses and in this
children and their spouses and in this
children and their spouses and in this atmosphere of secrecy they did their
atmosphere of secrecy they did their
atmosphere of secrecy they did their best to redefine normalcy in the
best to redefine normalcy in the
best to redefine normalcy in the aftermath of nuclear war even today
aftermath of nuclear war even today
aftermath of nuclear war even today radiation scientists are actively
radiation scientists are actively
radiation scientists are actively studying 2nd and 3rd generation ibaka
studying 2nd and 3rd generation ibaka
studying 2nd and 3rd generation ibaka for genetic effects potentially passed
for genetic effects potentially passed
for genetic effects potentially passed to them from their parents and
to them from their parents and
to them from their parents and grandparents reminding us how much we
grandparents reminding us how much we
grandparents reminding us how much we still do not know about the insidious
still do not know about the insidious
still do not know about the insidious nature of radiation exposure to the
nature of radiation exposure to the
nature of radiation exposure to the human body so why does all this matter
human body so why does all this matter
human body so why does all this matter 71 years later what can survivors of
71 years later what can survivors of
71 years later what can survivors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima teach us about
Nagasaki and Hiroshima teach us about
Nagasaki and Hiroshima teach us about our lives today it matters because
our lives today it matters because
our lives today it matters because 15,000 nuclear weapons exist in the
15,000 nuclear weapons exist in the
15,000 nuclear weapons exist in the world today more than 4,000 actively
world today more than 4,000 actively
world today more than 4,000 actively deployed across the globe far more
deployed across the globe far more
deployed across the globe far more powerful than those used on Hiroshima
powerful than those used on Hiroshima
powerful than those used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki waiting and ready for use
and Nagasaki waiting and ready for use
and Nagasaki waiting and ready for use upon command whether by intentional
upon command whether by intentional
upon command whether by intentional military use a nuclear accident or an
military use a nuclear accident or an
military use a nuclear accident or an act of terrorism today we face an
act of terrorism today we face an
act of terrorism today we face an extremely high risk for far worse
extremely high risk for far worse
extremely high risk for far worse humanik
humanik
humanik carrion and environmental disasters than
carrion and environmental disasters than
carrion and environmental disasters than Hiroshima and Nagasaki the survivors
Hiroshima and Nagasaki the survivors
Hiroshima and Nagasaki the survivors stories matter because as long as these
stories matter because as long as these
stories matter because as long as these weapons exist we must imagine and
weapons exist we must imagine and
weapons exist we must imagine and understand what nuclear war really means
understand what nuclear war really means
understand what nuclear war really means and he Borgia are the only people in
and he Borgia are the only people in
and he Borgia are the only people in history who can tell us firsthand what
history who can tell us firsthand what
history who can tell us firsthand what these weapons can do their stories
these weapons can do their stories
these weapons can do their stories matter because the American narrative of
matter because the American narrative of
matter because the American narrative of the bombings that they ended the war and
the bombings that they ended the war and
the bombings that they ended the war and saved countless American lives is at
saved countless American lives is at
saved countless American lives is at best overly simplistic allowing us for
best overly simplistic allowing us for
best overly simplistic allowing us for 71 years to obscure and deny the other
71 years to obscure and deny the other
71 years to obscure and deny the other half of the story how can we make sound
half of the story how can we make sound
half of the story how can we make sound decisions about our future if we don’t
decisions about our future if we don’t
decisions about our future if we don’t examine and understand the full
examine and understand the full
examine and understand the full consequences of our past actions their
consequences of our past actions their
consequences of our past actions their stories matter because we build
stories matter because we build
stories matter because we build thousands of nuclear weapons as a
thousands of nuclear weapons as a
thousands of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to nuclear war in irony not
deterrent to nuclear war in irony not
deterrent to nuclear war in irony not lost on hibachi ah mr. Taniguchi is now
lost on hibachi ah mr. Taniguchi is now
lost on hibachi ah mr. Taniguchi is now 88 and he’s weak worn out from the
88 and he’s weak worn out from the
88 and he’s weak worn out from the physical pain he’s endured each day
physical pain he’s endured each day
physical pain he’s endured each day since the bombing but he becomes quietly
since the bombing but he becomes quietly
since the bombing but he becomes quietly enraged when he hears arguments that
enraged when he hears arguments that
enraged when he hears arguments that nuclear weapons are instruments of peace
nuclear weapons are instruments of peace
nuclear weapons are instruments of peace for him there is only one meaning for
for him there is only one meaning for
for him there is only one meaning for the word peace and it does not include
the word peace and it does not include
the word peace and it does not include nuclear weapons the atomic bomb
nuclear weapons the atomic bomb
nuclear weapons the atomic bomb he says quietly is a destroyer of peace
he says quietly is a destroyer of peace
he says quietly is a destroyer of peace for all of these reasons taniguchi’s and
for all of these reasons taniguchi’s and
for all of these reasons taniguchi’s and all the survivors stories urgently
all the survivors stories urgently
all the survivors stories urgently matter because they invite us to
matter because they invite us to
matter because they invite us to understand how fiercely we must imagine
understand how fiercely we must imagine
understand how fiercely we must imagine and manifest peace peace without nuclear
and manifest peace peace without nuclear
and manifest peace peace without nuclear weapons
weapons
weapons he Borgia had faced this history now so
he Borgia had faced this history now so
he Borgia had faced this history now so must we because not only they but we too
must we because not only they but we too
must we because not only they but we too want to ensure that Nagasaki
want to ensure that Nagasaki
want to ensure that Nagasaki is the last atomic bombs city in history
is the last atomic bombs city in history
is the last atomic bombs city in history thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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