“I survived by the grace of the deceased.
But to stop history from repeating itself I have to speak.”
-Haruyo Nihei, Tokyo firebomb survivor
Mrs. Haruyo Nihei experienced the firebombing of Tokyo on the night of March 10th, 1945. Bombers carpeted Tokyo with spread incendiary bombs for hours and after the bombing ceased, the city was wrapped in flames. Almost everything burnt in the city.
“The fire died down because there was nothing left to be burnt. I remember walking the site of fire, by stepping over charred bodies”
When the bombing started she began to escape with her family, but the flames cornered her and
she was separated from them. The streets were full of panic. She fell down and fainted. People then piled
on top of her. She, and others near the bottom of the pile, survived because the people near the top
bore the brunt of the inferno.
This portrait is a part of my From Above project which featured portraits of atomic bomb and firebombing survivors from WWII. My limited edition book is available at http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i&i2
Posts Tagged ‘Haruyo Nihei’
Haruyo Nihei
Friday, March 6th, 2020Masatoshi Tsunenari
Thursday, January 25th, 2018..January 2018.. ..Nagasaki..
Today I received the sad news that atomic bomb survivor Mr. Masatoshi Tsunenari passed away a couple of months ago. He was 89 years old.
I hadn’t seen Mr. Tsunenari since July 2010. He was a soft spoken person with a lot of compassion.
I will always be thankful that he agreed to meet with Mrs. Haruyo Nihei, a Tokyo fire bombing survivor, who wanted to tell her experience of surviving the fire bombing of Tokyo to an atomic bomb survivor. It was an amazing moment to see them listen and exchange stories. Tragic moments in time that changed their lives instantly.
Seeing Mr. Tsunenari listen to and accept Mrs. Nihei’s story was moving. I believe it was a great feeling of relief to Ms. Nihei to be able to share her experience.
This is there portrait I took near the hypocenter where the atomic bomb was detonated in Nagasaki. It’s also in my book From Above and I will show it next time the exhibition returns to Nagasaki.
Mrs. Haruyo Nihei
Thursday, March 9th, 2017
Mrs. Haruyo Nihei
Saturday, March 10th, 2012
Hibakusha, atomic bomb Survivor, Mr. Masatoshi Tsunenari and Tokyo fire bombing Survivor Ms. Haruyo Nihei
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
..June 2010..
Hibakusha, atomic bomb Survivor, Mr. Masatoshi Tsunenari and Tokyo fire bombing Survivor Ms. Haruyo Nihei a block away from the epicenter where the atomic bomb was detonated in Nagasaki.
Ms. Haruyo Nihei, a Tokyo fire bombing Survivor I photographed for the original From Above series, accompanied the exhibition when it was shown at the Nagasaki Peace Museum during June/July 2010. She wanted to tell her story of surviving the 3/10 fire bombing of Tokyo to an atomic bomb Survivor.
Hibakusha Mr. Tsunenari agreed meet Ms. Nihei in Nagasaki. It was an amazing moment to see them listen and exchange stories. Tragic moments in time that changed their lives instantly.
It was the highlight of my trip to Nagasaki. I was proud the exhibition was shown at the Nagasaki Peace Museum. But to see the feelings of Ms. Nihei, it’s what I want From Above to be about. A project that eclipses my photos and allows others to reach out to one another. Seeing Mr. Tsunenari listen to and accept Ms. Nihei’s story of the 3/10 Tokyo fire bombings was moving. I believe it was a great feeling of relief to Ms. Nihei to be able to share her story.
Many of the 3/10 Survivors don’t get the recognition as others. The event is swept away as a side note in the history books and society. On March 10, 1945 more people died in Tokyo, during one night, than in both atomic bombings combined.
Ms. Haruyo Nihei
Monday, March 7th, 2011