in 2010 a book came out that was reported to have lied about the atomic
reported to have lied about the atomic
reported to have lied about the atomic bombings from Hiroshima and Nagasaki
bombings from Hiroshima and Nagasaki
bombings from Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the United States perspective well
from the United States perspective well
from the United States perspective well I knew a true story so I had to start
I knew a true story so I had to start
I knew a true story so I had to start writing my grandfather Jacob Boozer was
writing my grandfather Jacob Boozer was
writing my grandfather Jacob Boozer was the only man on board both the airplanes
the only man on board both the airplanes
the only man on board both the airplanes that dropped the atomic bombs on
that dropped the atomic bombs on
that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki but by
Hiroshima and Nagasaki but by
Hiroshima and Nagasaki but by coincidence my other grandfather was
coincidence my other grandfather was
coincidence my other grandfather was actually friends with someone who
actually friends with someone who
actually friends with someone who survived to Oshima I met her when I was
survived to Oshima I met her when I was
survived to Oshima I met her when I was a child we keep her identity hidden now
a child we keep her identity hidden now
a child we keep her identity hidden now but I asked her family if they would
but I asked her family if they would
but I asked her family if they would work with me when I found out about this
work with me when I found out about this
work with me when I found out about this not true book but they said no we can be
not true book but they said no we can be
not true book but they said no we can be your friends they told me but if you
your friends they told me but if you
your friends they told me but if you want to write a book about the atomic
want to write a book about the atomic
want to write a book about the atomic bombings you have to meet Heba Cuccia
bombings you have to meet Heba Cuccia
bombings you have to meet Heba Cuccia the the survivors the atomic bomb
the the survivors the atomic bomb
the the survivors the atomic bomb survivors you have to meet as many as
survivors you have to meet as many as
survivors you have to meet as many as you can before it’s too late because
you can before it’s too late because
you can before it’s too late because they’re rapidly passing away so for the
they’re rapidly passing away so for the
they’re rapidly passing away so for the last six years that’s what I’ve been
last six years that’s what I’ve been
last six years that’s what I’ve been doing I’ve been seeking out these Heba
doing I’ve been seeking out these Heba
doing I’ve been seeking out these Heba Cuccia asking them to tell me their
Cuccia asking them to tell me their
Cuccia asking them to tell me their stories and inheriting their messages to
stories and inheriting their messages to
stories and inheriting their messages to send to the next generation when I found
send to the next generation when I found
send to the next generation when I found out about the Fulbright National
out about the Fulbright National
out about the Fulbright National Geographic digital storytelling
Geographic digital storytelling
Geographic digital storytelling fellowship I knew that I had to piece
fellowship I knew that I had to piece
fellowship I knew that I had to piece their stories together with the nuclear
their stories together with the nuclear
their stories together with the nuclear refugees from Fukushima the first thing
refugees from Fukushima the first thing
refugees from Fukushima the first thing I learned about all of this is that war
I learned about all of this is that war
I learned about all of this is that war is extremely difficult to talk about
is extremely difficult to talk about
is extremely difficult to talk about everybody has their own version of the
everybody has their own version of the
everybody has their own version of the truth that they believe them if you look
truth that they believe them if you look
truth that they believe them if you look at world war ii it’s no different let’s
at world war ii it’s no different let’s
at world war ii it’s no different let’s pretend we’re Japanese let’s pretend
pretend we’re Japanese let’s pretend
pretend we’re Japanese let’s pretend we’re Japan we’re watching Western
we’re Japan we’re watching Western
we’re Japan we’re watching Western powers take over Asia we have stayed
powers take over Asia we have stayed
powers take over Asia we have stayed isolated for 150 years to keep our
isolated for 150 years to keep our
isolated for 150 years to keep our identity our religion our culture our
identity our religion our culture our
identity our religion our culture our way of life cure and survive and we grew
way of life cure and survive and we grew
way of life cure and survive and we grew and we were able to defend ourselves and
and we were able to defend ourselves and
and we were able to defend ourselves and we did but the United States said we
we did but the United States said we
we did but the United States said we couldn’t and they put an embargo on us
couldn’t and they put an embargo on us
couldn’t and they put an embargo on us and sanctions should we give up or
and sanctions should we give up or
and sanctions should we give up or should we do something so that’s how
should we do something so that’s how
should we do something so that’s how Tokyo viewed World War 2 they had no
Tokyo viewed World War 2 they had no
Tokyo viewed World War 2 they had no choice they thought they had to attack
choice they thought they had to attack
choice they thought they had to attack Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor you have to understand that this is the
you have to understand that this is the
you have to understand that this is the mentality it’s not necessarily that I
mentality it’s not necessarily that I
mentality it’s not necessarily that I agree with this or think this is just
agree with this or think this is just
agree with this or think this is just that I wanted to understand where they
that I wanted to understand where they
that I wanted to understand where they were coming from President Obama ignored
were coming from President Obama ignored
were coming from President Obama ignored the political backlash and the
the political backlash and the
the political backlash and the misunderstandings about apologies when
misunderstandings about apologies when
misunderstandings about apologies when he went to Hiroshima the first president
he went to Hiroshima the first president
he went to Hiroshima the first president to do so he knew he wasn’t coming there
to do so he knew he wasn’t coming there
to do so he knew he wasn’t coming there to apologize that’s not what we do
to apologize that’s not what we do
to apologize that’s not what we do he came to reflect on humanity’s ability
he came to reflect on humanity’s ability
he came to reflect on humanity’s ability to destroy itself and he spoke to a
to destroy itself and he spoke to a
to destroy itself and he spoke to a carefully selected audience of qiba
carefully selected audience of qiba
carefully selected audience of qiba Cuccia many of whom were my friends ito
Cuccia many of whom were my friends ito
Cuccia many of whom were my friends ito Sanh was there
Sanh was there
Sanh was there Vito sans brother was killed in the
Vito sans brother was killed in the
Vito sans brother was killed in the bombing when he was 10 he was evacuated
bombing when he was 10 he was evacuated
bombing when he was 10 he was evacuated to the countryside like many ton year
to the countryside like many ton year
to the countryside like many ton year olds and then decades later his worst
olds and then decades later his worst
olds and then decades later his worst fears were brought to life again when he
fears were brought to life again when he
fears were brought to life again when he watched a plane crash into his son’s
watched a plane crash into his son’s
watched a plane crash into his son’s office building on September 11 for many
office building on September 11 for many
office building on September 11 for many years he was angry bitter but a buddhist
years he was angry bitter but a buddhist
years he was angry bitter but a buddhist priest a friend of his taught him how to
priest a friend of his taught him how to
priest a friend of his taught him how to let that go and now in ito-san speaks he
let that go and now in ito-san speaks he
let that go and now in ito-san speaks he teaches people the same mori-san was
teaches people the same mori-san was
teaches people the same mori-san was there maurice ons elementary school was
there maurice ons elementary school was
there maurice ons elementary school was across the street from the regional
across the street from the regional
across the street from the regional police headquarters in her Oshima he
police headquarters in her Oshima he
police headquarters in her Oshima he knew for a fact that American prisoners
knew for a fact that American prisoners
knew for a fact that American prisoners of war were kept there and killed in the
of war were kept there and killed in the
of war were kept there and killed in the bombs but their identities were kept
bombs but their identities were kept
bombs but their identities were kept hidden there they were never admitted to
hidden there they were never admitted to
hidden there they were never admitted to have been there he sought out their
have been there he sought out their
have been there he sought out their identities and he kept researching for
identities and he kept researching for
identities and he kept researching for years and years and years to seek who
years and years and years to seek who
years and years and years to seek who they were just to know who they were
they were just to know who they were
they were just to know who they were just to contact their families just to
just to contact their families just to
just to contact their families just to tell them what had happened and
tell them what had happened and
tell them what had happened and eventually it was Declassified their
eventually it was Declassified their
eventually it was Declassified their identities were revealed we would
identities were revealed we would
identities were revealed we would recognize them and President Obama
recognize them and President Obama
recognize them and President Obama hugged him after his speech koko-san
hugged him after his speech koko-san
hugged him after his speech koko-san wasn’t in the audience but she liked the
wasn’t in the audience but she liked the
wasn’t in the audience but she liked the rest of the world was listening to Obama
rest of the world was listening to Obama
rest of the world was listening to Obama speak and she swore she heard this
speak and she swore she heard this
speak and she swore she heard this familiar story and that it had to be her
familiar story and that it had to be her
familiar story and that it had to be her when a when President Obama said the
when a when President Obama said the
when a when President Obama said the woman who forgave the pilot that was
woman who forgave the pilot that was
woman who forgave the pilot that was Coco Coco’s father Reverend Kyoshi tani
Coco Coco’s father Reverend Kyoshi tani
Coco Coco’s father Reverend Kyoshi tani was the mastermind behind the Hiroshima
was the mastermind behind the Hiroshima
was the mastermind behind the Hiroshima maidens project the 25 girls that were
maidens project the 25 girls that were
maidens project the 25 girls that were brought to the United States to receive
brought to the United States to receive
brought to the United States to receive reconstructive surgery to heal their
reconstructive surgery to heal their
reconstructive surgery to heal their scars from the bomb one of them was
scars from the bomb one of them was
scars from the bomb one of them was actually my grandfather’s friend he was
actually my grandfather’s friend he was
actually my grandfather’s friend he was the mastermind behind the Hiroshima
the mastermind behind the Hiroshima
the mastermind behind the Hiroshima maidens project and Reverend kiritani
maidens project and Reverend kiritani
maidens project and Reverend kiritani Modi was featured on this is your life
Modi was featured on this is your life
Modi was featured on this is your life where he was introduced to Robert Louis
where he was introduced to Robert Louis
where he was introduced to Robert Louis the co-pilot Coco had these feelings of
the co-pilot Coco had these feelings of
the co-pilot Coco had these feelings of revenge she wanted to do something to
revenge she wanted to do something to
revenge she wanted to do something to him when she met him at the tender age
him when she met him at the tender age
him when she met him at the tender age of 10 but when she saw him he had tears
of 10 but when she saw him he had tears
of 10 but when she saw him he had tears in his eyes she told me that he just we
in his eyes she told me that he just we
in his eyes she told me that he just we were the same human heart nothing more
were the same human heart nothing more
were the same human heart nothing more and nothing less I spent about five
and nothing less I spent about five
and nothing less I spent about five months living in Fukushima I learned
months living in Fukushima I learned
months living in Fukushima I learned what happens when a nuclear power plant
what happens when a nuclear power plant
what happens when a nuclear power plant fails and you have to leave and you
fails and you have to leave and you
fails and you have to leave and you don’t know where to go and you don’t
don’t know where to go and you don’t
don’t know where to go and you don’t know where you’re coming back and you
know where you’re coming back and you
know where you’re coming back and you don’t know if you’ve been exposed you
don’t know if you’ve been exposed you
don’t know if you’ve been exposed you don’t know how much you’ve been exposed
don’t know how much you’ve been exposed
don’t know how much you’ve been exposed to or if you have been exposed at all
to or if you have been exposed at all
to or if you have been exposed at all but you’ve got that anxiety I went into
but you’ve got that anxiety I went into
but you’ve got that anxiety I went into Futaba with ug o pneuma his hometown ug
Futaba with ug o pneuma his hometown ug
Futaba with ug o pneuma his hometown ug you in middle school came up with a
you in middle school came up with a
you in middle school came up with a slogan in a contest promoting nuclear
slogan in a contest promoting nuclear
slogan in a contest promoting nuclear power plants nuclear energy his slogan
power plants nuclear energy his slogan
power plants nuclear energy his slogan it won nuclear energy is the power of a
it won nuclear energy is the power of a
it won nuclear energy is the power of a bright future nuclear power is the
bright future nuclear power is the
bright future nuclear power is the energy of a bright future he wrote and
energy of a bright future he wrote and
energy of a bright future he wrote and four years that’s a light that sign
four years that’s a light that sign
four years that’s a light that sign stood proudly in the Main Street and
stood proudly in the Main Street and
stood proudly in the Main Street and then ironically when the town was
then ironically when the town was
then ironically when the town was abandoned now you yuji’s in nuclear
abandoned now you yuji’s in nuclear
abandoned now you yuji’s in nuclear activists – anti-nuclear activists and
activists – anti-nuclear activists and
activists – anti-nuclear activists and he has built a solar farm for his new
he has built a solar farm for his new
he has built a solar farm for his new home so that they can be off the grid
home so that they can be off the grid
home so that they can be off the grid and not reliant on nuclear power anymore
and not reliant on nuclear power anymore
and not reliant on nuclear power anymore every time every time I interview
every time every time I interview
every time every time I interview someone from Fukushima Hiroshima
someone from Fukushima Hiroshima
someone from Fukushima Hiroshima Nagasaki I just think what would I do if
Nagasaki I just think what would I do if
Nagasaki I just think what would I do if there was me what would I do
there was me what would I do
there was me what would I do Keiko she drove to her home because she
Keiko she drove to her home because she
Keiko she drove to her home because she was at their daughter’s graduation when
was at their daughter’s graduation when
was at their daughter’s graduation when the earthquake struck she was the only
the earthquake struck she was the only
the earthquake struck she was the only car on the road everybody else was
car on the road everybody else was
car on the road everybody else was driving away from the disaster
driving away from the disaster
driving away from the disaster but she didn’t know what had happened
but she didn’t know what had happened
but she didn’t know what had happened when she got home her neighbor who
when she got home her neighbor who
when she got home her neighbor who worked at the plant said there was an
worked at the plant said there was an
worked at the plant said there was an explosion at the plant not a meltdown
explosion at the plant not a meltdown
explosion at the plant not a meltdown but an explosion so she had to leave I
but an explosion so she had to leave I
but an explosion so she had to leave I think about Kenta Sato whose town is not
think about Kenta Sato whose town is not
think about Kenta Sato whose town is not in the exclusion zone but received
in the exclusion zone but received
in the exclusion zone but received Chernobyl level radiation
Chernobyl level radiation
Chernobyl level radiation Eenie top tech now he stares at his
Eenie top tech now he stares at his
Eenie top tech now he stares at his property and those black bags
property and those black bags
property and those black bags that’s the topsoil from his farmlands
that’s the topsoil from his farmlands
that’s the topsoil from his farmlands but do not call it trash that’s not
but do not call it trash that’s not
but do not call it trash that’s not trash he says that’s the soil my
trash he says that’s the soil my
trash he says that’s the soil my ancestors spent generations thousands of
ancestors spent generations thousands of
ancestors spent generations thousands of years cultivating enriching and build
years cultivating enriching and build
years cultivating enriching and build and growing delicious fruit and
and growing delicious fruit and
and growing delicious fruit and vegetables since it’s not trash it’s my
vegetables since it’s not trash it’s my
vegetables since it’s not trash it’s my identity he said and I think about how I
identity he said and I think about how I
identity he said and I think about how I think about how to survive an atomic
think about how to survive an atomic
think about how to survive an atomic bomb
bomb
bomb and how duck-and-cover actually saved
and how duck-and-cover actually saved
and how duck-and-cover actually saved John Kuhn leaves life but after the
John Kuhn leaves life but after the
John Kuhn leaves life but after the bombs he had to hide his atomic bomb
bombs he had to hide his atomic bomb
bombs he had to hide his atomic bomb survivor identity and his Korean Won
survivor identity and his Korean Won
survivor identity and his Korean Won because both communities face
because both communities face
because both communities face discrimination in Japan and I think
discrimination in Japan and I think
discrimination in Japan and I think about Saku as she mahira whose brother
about Saku as she mahira whose brother
about Saku as she mahira whose brother returned to Nagasaki where he warned her
returned to Nagasaki where he warned her
returned to Nagasaki where he warned her her ocean home was destroyed after the
her ocean home was destroyed after the
her ocean home was destroyed after the all-clear if there’s a no if there’s an
all-clear if there’s a no if there’s an
all-clear if there’s a no if there’s an air-raid warning don’t go outside even
air-raid warning don’t go outside even
air-raid warning don’t go outside even after the all-clear warning she was 800
after the all-clear warning she was 800
after the all-clear warning she was 800 meters from the hypocenter of the bomb
meters from the hypocenter of the bomb
meters from the hypocenter of the bomb and she listened to her brother’s advice
and she listened to her brother’s advice
and she listened to her brother’s advice and survived and I think about stony
and survived and I think about stony
and survived and I think about stony Yamaguchi he was working in her ocean as
Yamaguchi he was working in her ocean as
Yamaguchi he was working in her ocean as a ship designer and the Nazca rivers
a ship designer and the Nazca rivers
a ship designer and the Nazca rivers were walking to work they were
were walking to work they were
were walking to work they were discussing about buying the train
discussing about buying the train
discussing about buying the train tickets home on August 7th should we
tickets home on August 7th should we
tickets home on August 7th should we reserve them or should we just get them
reserve them or should we just get them
reserve them or should we just get them there why we should get them there but
there why we should get them there but
there why we should get them there but that’s when he realized he forgot his
that’s when he realized he forgot his
that’s when he realized he forgot his stamp his name stamp so he had to run
stamp his name stamp so he had to run
stamp his name stamp so he had to run back to his dorm and get it and his way
back to his dorm and get it and his way
back to his dorm and get it and his way back to his office everybody was already
back to his office everybody was already
back to his office everybody was already inside and safe in the factory and he
inside and safe in the factory and he
inside and safe in the factory and he was in the fields and he saw parachutes
was in the fields and he saw parachutes
was in the fields and he saw parachutes falling from the grant from the from an
falling from the grant from the from an
falling from the grant from the from an airplane but before he could think about
airplane but before he could think about
airplane but before he could think about what it was he just survived the first
what it was he just survived the first
what it was he just survived the first atomic attack on people and he escaped
atomic attack on people and he escaped
atomic attack on people and he escaped and he went home
and he went home
and he went home and he told his co-workers what had
and he told his co-workers what had
and he told his co-workers what had happened at the engineering plan one
happened at the engineering plan one
happened at the engineering plan one plane destroyed one city with one bomb
plane destroyed one city with one bomb
plane destroyed one city with one bomb stomas on you’re a technician you should
stomas on you’re a technician you should
stomas on you’re a technician you should know that’s not possible they said and
know that’s not possible they said and
know that’s not possible they said and then that’s when the second bomb went
then that’s when the second bomb went
then that’s when the second bomb went off in Nagasaki and his first thought
off in Nagasaki and his first thought
off in Nagasaki and his first thought was that the mushroom clouds are
was that the mushroom clouds are
was that the mushroom clouds are following me from my understanding the
following me from my understanding the
following me from my understanding the Fulbright Program is actually in
Fulbright Program is actually in
Fulbright Program is actually in jeopardy
jeopardy
jeopardy the current administration believes that
the current administration believes that
the current administration believes that we need to keep our country secure by
we need to keep our country secure by
we need to keep our country secure by building up our military defenses but I
building up our military defenses but I
building up our military defenses but I argue that a strong cultural exchange
argue that a strong cultural exchange
argue that a strong cultural exchange does build up our defenses
does build up our defenses
does build up our defenses we can fight misunderstandings we can
we can fight misunderstandings we can
we can fight misunderstandings we can learn from each other and the Fulbright
learn from each other and the Fulbright
learn from each other and the Fulbright Program alone I went to a convention
Program alone I went to a convention
Program alone I went to a convention where I helped volunteer and I met
where I helped volunteer and I met
where I helped volunteer and I met people from Morocco from Afghanistan
people from Morocco from Afghanistan
people from Morocco from Afghanistan from Pakistan from Palestine from India
from Pakistan from Palestine from India
from Pakistan from Palestine from India from Turkey from all over the world
from Turkey from all over the world
from Turkey from all over the world where we could disagree with each other
where we could disagree with each other
where we could disagree with each other peacefully and learn about what we think
peacefully and learn about what we think
peacefully and learn about what we think my grandfather did not feel bad about
my grandfather did not feel bad about
my grandfather did not feel bad about what he did never expressed guilt but he
what he did never expressed guilt but he
what he did never expressed guilt but he said that we have to figure out a way to
said that we have to figure out a way to
said that we have to figure out a way to get along or it’s gonna happen again and
get along or it’s gonna happen again and
get along or it’s gonna happen again and it’s happening again I’m really worried
it’s happening again I’m really worried
it’s happening again I’m really worried I’m I’m terrified that we’re forgetting
I’m I’m terrified that we’re forgetting
I’m I’m terrified that we’re forgetting the messages if your oshimen Nagasaki
the messages if your oshimen Nagasaki
the messages if your oshimen Nagasaki and Fukushima or even worse we’re
and Fukushima or even worse we’re
and Fukushima or even worse we’re misinterpreting them slow Miyama Gucci’s
misinterpreting them slow Miyama Gucci’s
misinterpreting them slow Miyama Gucci’s family told me they’d send his message
family told me they’d send his message
family told me they’d send his message everywhere I go he used to say that
everywhere I go he used to say that
everywhere I go he used to say that we’re living in a time where we listen
we’re living in a time where we listen
we’re living in a time where we listen to the loudest and the most radical
to the loudest and the most radical
to the loudest and the most radical people and we think that they’re right
people and we think that they’re right
people and we think that they’re right world war two is the same way but we
world war two is the same way but we
world war two is the same way but we know what is right we know it’s true
know what is right we know it’s true
know what is right we know it’s true even if the truth starts out as a
even if the truth starts out as a
even if the truth starts out as a whisper we have to keep telling you the
whisper we have to keep telling you the
whisper we have to keep telling you the truth transcends borders so we can
truth transcends borders so we can
truth transcends borders so we can imagine that world without war and that
imagine that world without war and that
imagine that world without war and that world will rid ourselves of that last
world will rid ourselves of that last
world will rid ourselves of that last nuclear weapon then we have to work
nuclear weapon then we have to work
nuclear weapon then we have to work together and achieve it one day I’m
together and achieve it one day I’m
together and achieve it one day I’m going to tell my grandchildren that my
going to tell my grandchildren that my
going to tell my grandchildren that my grandfather was the only man in the
grandfather was the only man in the
grandfather was the only man in the world that was on both planes that
world that was on both planes that
world that was on both planes that dropped the atomic bombs and their
dropped the atomic bombs and their
dropped the atomic bombs and their grandfather he was sent by the
grandfather he was sent by the
grandfather he was sent by the governments of the United States and
governments of the United States and
governments of the United States and Japan who worked together to send a
Japan who worked together to send a
Japan who worked together to send a message of
message of
message of reconciliation and nuclear disarmament
reconciliation and nuclear disarmament
reconciliation and nuclear disarmament that’s I’ll tell them how peace works
that’s I’ll tell them how peace works
that’s I’ll tell them how peace works thank you
”
Be First to Comment