Atomic Bombing Survivor Masahito Hirose, English Teacher

Topics Covered: The start of the Pacific War; Sacrifice of truth and information during the war; Post-war democracy; Nagasaki Catholic history; Message to Viewers.

00:00:09.680 –> 00:00:12.140
Sometimes,

00:00:12.160 –> 00:00:21.160
especially when I talked with American students or adults in a group,

00:00:21.520 –> 00:00:23.520
Um,

00:00:23.600 –> 00:00:27.820
They always asked me:

00:00:28.240 –> 00:00:31.300
“Do you hate Americans?”

00:00:31.440 –> 00:00:33.760
But, as I…

00:00:33.760 –> 00:00:41.100
As I mentioned earlier, my answer is “No, I do not hate Americans.”

00:00:41.120 –> 00:00:44.180
I have hatred against that war, but not against Americans.

00:00:47.680 –> 00:01:03.120
December 8 of 1941, I was a student in the sixth grade of primary school.

00:01:03.120 –> 00:01:15.760
That morning, I got up and came down from the second floor to the kitchen.

00:01:15.760 –> 00:01:20.000
My mother was listening to the radio.

00:01:20.000 –> 00:01:31.600
When my mother heard the broadcast, she said,

00:01:34.480 –> 00:01:38.640
She said, “What will happen if your father gets taken away to fight in the war!”

00:01:38.640 –> 00:01:39.600
Um,

00:01:40.880 –> 00:01:44.000
since Japan had a draft system back then,

00:01:44.000 –> 00:01:47.840
this is the draft summons letter,

00:01:47.840 –> 00:01:52.960
If you got this, then in 10 days

00:01:52.960 –> 00:01:59.180
in 10 days one had to give up his family and everything in order to serve in the army.

00:01:59.520 –> 00:02:00.520
So then,

00:02:00.920 –> 00:02:04.320
since many people had already

00:02:04.320 –> 00:02:06.320
died from the war,

00:02:06.320 –> 00:02:17.960
my mother must have worried constantly about his death more than whether Japan wins the war or not.

00:02:17.960 –> 00:02:24.660
I myself was terrified, thinking, “what would happen if my father died?”

00:02:24.660 –> 00:02:27.960
That’s something I remember vividly.

00:02:28.880 –> 00:02:30.920
I was 12-years-old.

00:02:30.920 –> 00:02:34.240
But, when I went to school,

00:02:34.640 –> 00:02:43.440
they announced in the morning that the war began against the United States,

00:02:43.440 –> 00:02:51.360
but by the afternoon we already heard a lot about how we achieved a great victory at Pearl Harbor.

00:02:51.360 –> 00:02:55.600
that news came to us, saying how

00:02:55.840 –> 00:02:59.300
“Japan completely wiped out the United States naval base,”

00:02:59.300 –> 00:03:01.140
and that “Japan is strong and we will win.”

00:03:01.140 –> 00:03:04.760
So our teachers told us to work hard for Japan.

00:03:04.760 –> 00:03:07.560
They said, “for our country you must,”

00:03:07.560 –> 00:03:12.360
um, well,

00:03:12.360 –> 00:03:14.520
“you must study and work hard.”

00:03:15.120 –> 00:03:17.880
So I think that,

00:03:17.880 –> 00:03:21.600
within that kind of education system we slowly

00:03:21.600 –> 00:03:23.600
grew up as “militarism boys.”

00:03:24.880 –> 00:03:26.480
But,

00:03:26.480 –> 00:03:29.520
in the end,

00:03:30.640 –> 00:03:35.240
while Japan did win at Pearl Harbor with surprise attacks,

00:03:35.240 –> 00:03:37.160
after,

00:03:38.880 –> 00:03:45.760
From **1942** onward, Japan started losing constantly.

00:03:45.760 –> 00:03:49.920
But those facts didn’t get passed on to us citizens.

00:03:50.320 –> 00:03:52.200
As I mentioned before,

00:03:52.240 –> 00:03:55.520
throughout war, we were only told lies;

00:03:55.520 –> 00:03:58.800
therefore, truth was sacrificed.

00:04:03.040 –> 00:04:11.300
It’s called “Mitsubishi Shipyard & Machinery Works Production Unit, Saiwai-machi Plant.”

00:04:11.300 –> 00:04:18.620
For a shipyard, there is a place to build the body of a ship,

00:04:18.640 –> 00:04:21.420
and there’s another place for building engines inside a ship.

00:04:21.440 –> 00:04:24.520
The “machinery works production unit” is for building engines.

00:04:24.520 –> 00:04:27.840
And that’s where I was.

00:04:29.440 –> 00:04:37.360
So for the engines… well for the bodies, they made them at the docks by the ocean,

00:04:37.360 –> 00:04:39.220
so that’s right by the coast, but

00:04:39.220 –> 00:04:50.240
for the engines, we built new plants more inland, by burying rice paddies.

00:04:50.240 –> 00:05:00.900
The plant I worked at was called “Saiwai-machi plant,” which was 1.3km from ground zero.

00:05:00.900 –> 00:05:05.720
And,

00:05:05.720 –> 00:05:17.600
when the air raids became intense, I could tell that other cities in Japan were attacked

00:05:17.680 –> 00:05:19.740
from the news, but

00:05:19.840 –> 00:05:28.000
until April, 1945, Nagasaki never got an air raid.

00:05:29.040 –> 00:05:33.780
From April to August, we got attacked 4 times.

00:05:33.840 –> 00:05:38.360
At Nagasaki station, then at Mitsubishi Shipyard,

00:05:38.360 –> 00:05:42.080
and they dropped bombs somewhere in the mountains, maybe by an accident.

00:05:42.080 –> 00:05:47.580
To this day, we don’t know if those were coordinated attacks.

00:05:47.680 –> 00:05:52.040
And the reason why I say that, as you may know,

00:05:53.680 –> 00:06:00.000
is because Nagasaki was repeatedly named as a potential target for dropping an atomic bomb.

00:06:00.640 –> 00:06:09.520
Apparently there was a geographical obstacle to attack Nagasaki by air raids,

00:06:09.520 –> 00:06:19.580
and although Nagasaki didn’t get air raids until the end of April,

00:06:19.600 –> 00:06:26.520
we were saying, “with all other cities attacked, there’s no way we won’t get an air raid,”

00:06:27.440 –> 00:06:34.540
so in June, 1945 we took the little machine we used in Saiwai-machi plant and

00:06:36.640 –> 00:06:40.180
we moved it in a tunnel in a city called Tomachi

00:06:40.240 –> 00:06:45.120
in order to avoid the air raid when it happens.

00:06:45.120 –> 00:06:54.800
So because the 180 of us moved to the plant in the tunnel then,

00:06:54.880 –> 00:06:59.800
when the atomic bomb was dropped, we weren’t 1.3km away.

00:06:59.800 –> 00:07:03.120
About 50% of people died there.

00:07:05.520 –> 00:07:09.500
I think I was very fortunate.

00:07:09.520 –> 00:07:18.640
When it happened, I was actually not inside the tunnel but at an office outside.

00:07:18.640 –> 00:07:22.800
So I injured by arms from broken glasses.

00:07:28.480 –> 00:07:37.040
Although we heard enemies’ airplanes dropping bombs, they said, “Japan is winning.”

00:07:37.280 –> 00:07:41.200
Our teachers always told us so.

00:07:41.280 –> 00:07:51.200
Also, even right outside Nagasaki’s harbor, many ships sank from torpedoes shot by American submarines.

00:07:51.200 –> 00:07:55.760
We hear that from rumors, but they didn’t really show that in the news in public.

00:07:57.120 –> 00:08:03.140
Well rather than believing that Japan was losing, I had this fear that it might have been,

00:08:03.200 –> 00:08:05.640
but we didn’t know what the truth was.

00:08:05.640 –> 00:08:11.280
So we were constantly told that Japan was winning,

00:08:11.280 –> 00:08:14.360
but after the war, we learned that this was all lies.

00:08:14.400 –> 00:08:21.980
On August 15, 1945, the emperor made an announcement.

00:08:22.000 –> 00:08:26.660
He didn’t explicitly say that we lost,

00:08:26.660 –> 00:08:33.580
but by saying we will accept the Potsdam Declaration, the war ended.

00:08:34.800 –> 00:08:40.160
When I was listening to the emperor’s announcement,

00:08:40.560 –> 00:08:51.220
I was appalled, thinking, “they said we will definitely win the war — how is this already over?”

00:08:51.280 –> 00:08:53.280
“Already” or “abruptly” —

00:08:53.520 –> 00:09:00.880
We were living under extreme tension. But we believed that we will win,

00:09:01.920 –> 00:09:09.600
then you hear the emperor announcing that “the war has ended.” We went, “what, it’s over?”

00:09:10.000 –> 00:09:16.360
I felt kind of, disappointed… well, saying “it’s over?” and feeling disappointed are a bit different… but anyway.

00:09:16.360 –> 00:09:26.560
Yes. Back then, there was no TV. Not many houses had radios either.

00:09:26.560 –> 00:09:31.480
So I went to the school playground, and everyone

00:09:31.480 –> 00:09:41.640
was told the day before that on August 15th at noon, they must listen to the radio

00:09:41.920 –> 00:09:44.960
and that was, well,

00:09:44.960 –> 00:09:48.080
told through the speakers making announcements.

00:09:48.320 –> 00:09:56.200
So everyone in Japan went to houses or places with radios and listened to the emperor’s voice for the first time.

00:09:56.480 –> 00:10:02.560
Back then the emperor rarely showed his face in public,

00:10:03.600 –> 00:10:10.240
and we never heard his voice either, so I thought, “oh this is what he sounds like.”

00:10:10.320 –> 00:10:19.640
The announcement sounded very complex so we didn’t immediately understand everything,

00:10:19.640 –> 00:10:25.560
but by that evening the rumor that we lost the war spread like wildfire

00:10:25.840 –> 00:10:32.360
and all Japanese people knew that the war ended.

00:10:36.800 –> 00:10:39.640
It was both.

00:10:39.640 –> 00:10:48.800
It’s slightly different from religions like Christianity in a sense that we do pray to Gods.

00:10:48.800 –> 00:10:55.080
In Shinto we clap like this. The alter is to there to enshrine our ancestors.

00:10:55.120 –> 00:11:06.160
In Japan, we have those two concepts which might make Japanese religion difficult to understand for others from other countries especially Christians.

00:11:06.160 –> 00:11:14.160
There is a belief that there are many gods around us.

00:11:17.440 –> 00:11:20.160
Well, um,

00:11:20.160 –> 00:11:25.480
Catholic beliefs have been oppressed in Japan for a long time, and therefore there are very few who practice.

00:11:25.480 –> 00:11:32.640
So I believe she grew up initially as a Buddhist, but

00:11:32.640 –> 00:11:47.240
my wife lost her family during the war. That’s why she sought God, kept her faith, and got baptized.

00:11:47.280 –> 00:11:49.240
Um,

00:11:49.280 –> 00:11:52.080
it was after the war.

00:11:52.080 –> 00:11:58.400
She was 25 when we married, but she got baptized when she was about 20.

00:11:58.480 –> 00:12:02.560
I think… it’s a bit before.

00:12:02.560 –> 00:12:05.120
So,

00:12:05.120 –> 00:12:17.160
after the war when she returned, I think her dad, 2 younger brothers, and… a younger sister —

00:12:17.160 –> 00:12:25.560
coming back after losing her family, she seemed to have lived a very poor life.

00:12:25.560 –> 00:12:36.560
Amidst all of that, I think she sought God for help.

00:12:38.960 –> 00:12:42.040
So when she returned to Nagasaki,

00:12:42.040 –> 00:12:48.360
there were many Catholics and churches since Nagasaki had a rich Catholic heritage,

00:12:48.800 –> 00:12:50.160
and,

00:12:50.160 –> 00:12:56.520
she happened to visit one of the churches, prayed for help, and got baptized.

00:12:56.520 –> 00:13:00.000
Though it was in the time between when she returned from the war and before I met her.

00:13:03.760 –> 00:13:09.520
On October 1, 1945, school started again.

00:13:09.520 –> 00:13:23.680
And Nagasaki was of course half burnt so it was very dark and monochrome-looking city.

00:13:23.680 –> 00:13:28.400
When school resumed,

00:13:28.400 –> 00:13:40.880
the first thing I felt was how peaceful it was after realizing that there won’t be any more airplanes or air raids.

00:13:40.880 –> 00:13:45.160
After feeling peaceful, I reflected on how precious peace was.

00:13:45.200 –> 00:13:52.720
I lost my aunt and cousin then, though.

00:13:52.720 –> 00:14:01.680
Around September 20th, the U.S. army entered Japan and came to Nagasaki. Maybe it was September 23rd.

00:14:01.680 –> 00:14:03.200
Um,

00:14:03.200 –> 00:14:18.440
At first, a rumor spread that women will be abused and children will be killed by the army,

00:14:18.440 –> 00:14:24.160
and everyone ran away outside the city. Really.

00:14:24.240 –> 00:14:31.960
But I think it was because that was what Japanese army did to China when they were there.

00:14:31.960 –> 00:14:39.800
Because that’s what was done to China, they thought the U.S. would do the same thing.

00:14:39.800 –> 00:14:49.400
But we found that the U.S. soldiers were actually gentlemen who showed kindness.

00:14:49.400 –> 00:14:50.880
Um,

00:14:50.960 –> 00:14:59.480
The first English phrases Japanese kids learned was “give me chocolate” or “give me chewing gum.”

00:14:59.520 –> 00:15:06.400
And everyone, including women, returned home saying, “we misjudged the American soldiers.”

00:15:06.400 –> 00:15:08.520
That was immediately after the end of war.

00:15:08.560 –> 00:15:19.920
When we got back to school, one thing that I particularly remember is the fact that we were taught what the term “Democracy” meant.

00:15:20.640 –> 00:15:23.600
Until then I didn’t know what “Democracy” meant, but

00:15:23.600 –> 00:15:29.680
it was taught that it meant to treat each and every person with care.

00:15:29.680 –> 00:15:31.160
So with that,

00:15:31.160 –> 00:15:36.520
being exposed to a new philosophy, and what America is like,

00:15:36.520 –> 00:15:44.520
my perception of the U.S. changed to thinking that this country is very impressive and wonderful.

00:15:44.560 –> 00:15:50.560
That’s why I wanted to study English and go to the United States.

00:15:55.200 –> 00:16:04.280
The fact that people today can express their opinions, having such freedom to do so,

00:16:04.280 –> 00:16:08.200
and having that personality — I think that is a very good thing.

00:16:08.960 –> 00:16:16.880
We grew up obeying what teachers and parents told us, so I think we wouldn’t have the same, individual mindsets as they do.

00:16:18.000 –> 00:16:24.480
The younger generations today know what their opinions are more and are eager to express them.

00:16:28.160 –> 00:16:38.200
I would like them to take a moment to really learn about what an atomic bomb does and how it is a weapon that should never to be used by humanity again.

00:16:38.200 –> 00:16:48.640
Also, “do whatever you can to contribute to abolishing nuclear weapons completely.”

00:16:48.640 –> 00:16:50.640
That’s what I want to tell them.

00:16:50.640 –> 00:16:52.640
Um,

00:16:52.640 –> 00:17:02.080
When I went to France, I was bluntly asked, “do you really think we can get rid of nuclear weapons?”

00:17:02.080 –> 00:17:05.480
It was asked by a young French boy.

00:17:05.480 –> 00:17:11.760
So I replied, “you asked that question because you believe that’s not possible.”

00:17:11.760 –> 00:17:21.200
“If you believe that we need to get rid of nuclear weapons, then you begin to wonder, ‘what can I do?’ and start acting.”

00:17:21.200 –> 00:17:27.040
So start acting by believing that it needs to be done. Start with something that you can do to make it possible.