Posts Tagged ‘Hiroshima’

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Shigeko Sasamori

Thursday, December 19th, 2024

I received the sad news that Shigeko Sasamori passed away in her sleep this week at the age of 92.  Shigeko was 13 years old when the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima and suffered deadly injuries.  She was so badly burned that she was unrecognizable.  Her father found her days after because she kept repeating her name.  In 1955, Shigeko was chosen to be part of a small group of young girls called the Hiroshima Maidens.  They were brought to New York to have reconstructive plastic surgeries.  Shigeko immigrated and lived the majority of her life in Los Angeles. 

I photographed Shigeko while she visited New York through Hibakusha Stories to speak with students at high schools and universities.  Hibakusha Stories gave several hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) the opportunity to communicate with thousands of students for almost a decade.

The first photograph is of Shigeko dancing with students at Hunter College, and the other is with high school students at Brooklyn Friends during 2013.  It was amazing to see the connection each hibakusha had with students who were 60 years younger than them.  The attention and respect that the students had was surprising.  I often wonder after all these years if they still realize how lucky they were to have met hibakusha like Shigeko. 

I’ve never exhibited photographs of Shigeko in any of the From Above exhibitions.  Maybe because my time around her dictated that the photographs were more documentary than the portraits in the project.  It feels like I took these photographs yesterday, but more than a decade has passed.  I’m grateful for that small amount of time Shigeko allowed me to be there with my camera.

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Rumi Hanagaki

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

“I lost my memory for 58 years. I also wished I had not remembered. Now I believe god asked me to remember so I could tell others what happened.”

-Rumi Hanagaki, atomic bomb survivor

Rumi Hanagaki was five years old when the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima. She was 1.7km from the hypocenter. On the morning of August 6th, 1945, Rumi, her grandmother and aunt were inside their home. Her mother was doing the laundry in the yard carrying her younger brother on her back. Then suddenly there was a flash. In an instant fire spread all over. The house was toppled. A chest of drawers fell on Rumi. She managed to free herself from underneath and run outside. Her mother, brother; who was blown across the yard ran to the bamboo grove nearby. The grove caught on fire immediately. The grass ignited into sparks and bamboo swelled in the heat and exploded, making a huge clanging sound. Splinters of shattered bamboo scattering everywhere, they ran in horror.

While escaping, Rumi was speechless as she encountered dreadful sights. She saw a doll that her mother made, burning quietly without any smoke or fire. The landscape was struin with birds burnt to charcoal and burnt dogs still wearing collars. She came across a woman sitting in a burnt field crying “I can’t leave with my son buried in this rubble.” Rumi passed a black lump with water gushing out. They realized that the lump were burnt bodies without limbs, totally black and swollen like rubber were piled up. Her mother hugged her tightly and said, “Don’t look!”

Because of the shock, she lost her memories about the atomic bomb for 58 years. When she was 63 years old, her memories suddenly returned.

This portrait is a part of my From Above project, which is a collection of portraits and reminiscences of atomic bomb survivors and firebombing survivors from Dresden, Tokyo, Coventry, Rotterdam, and Wielun. From Above is permanently exhibited at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims. It has also been exhibited in museums, exhibition spaces, and at the United Nations. From Above was released as a limited edition book that was sold at PhotoEye.com. It is sold out, but I have the last copies. Contact me if you’re interested.

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Dr. Shuntaro Hida

Friday, August 5th, 2022

“As a doctor who survived the atomic bomb, I have many missions to go on.
Till today, I lived for that mission.
If I don’t continue talking about the fierce
and unknown diseases caused by radiation; we will not find a cure.”
-Dr. Shuntaro Hida

Dr. Hida experienced the atomic bomb when he was 28 years old, at a patient’s home 6km from the hypocenter. He treated the wounded immediately after the bomb detonated.  Fortunately he was not at The Hiroshima Military Hospital at the time because it was only 300m from the hypocenter.  

Recognizing that he would be needed to treat the wounded, he dashed on his bicycle threading his way against the tide of the people escaping the surrounding areas outside of Hiroshima. Finally he reached the city, but he could not get near the hospital.  In just 30 minutes, the flames engulfed the entire city.

Dr. Hida dedicated his life to treating atomic bomb survivors.  He retired from medicine at the age of 92.  He passed away on March 20th, 2017 at the age of 100.   I photographed Dr. Hida in 2010 at his home in Saitama, Japan. The photograph almost didn’t happen because he had been ill with pneumonia. Luckily he was released from the hospital on the last day of my trip. He was the only doctor I photographed for the project.

This portrait is a part of my From Above project which a collection of portraits and reminiscences of atomic bomb and firebombing survivors from the Second World War.  From Above is permanently exhibited at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims. It has also been exhibited in numerous international museums and exhibition spaces, including at the United Nations in New York and most recently in Dresden, Germany. From Above was released as a limited edition book available at https://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i=&i2=

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Jong-keun Lee

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022

“My mother used to pick off the maggots from the back of my neck, one by one, with bamboo forceps. She was sobbing and saying to herself, ‘Where is your dignity as a human being with maggots crawling over your living body? Your face, hands and feet will never be the same again. I almost wish you were dead, so that you can at least rest in peace.’ I felt her tears on my cheek, her warmth and her heartrending sorrow, which made me cry.”
-Jong-keun Lee, Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

Jong-keun Lee is an ethnic Korean who was born in Hiroshima during 1928, five years after his family came to Japan.He was exposed to the atomic bomb while commuting to his job at a mechanics’ workshop for steam locomotives. When he returned home he had no choice but to cross through the hypocenter and was exposed to high levels of radiation. 

Before the war Mr. Lee was treated as Japanese and allowed to get a job for the government, even though he was of Korean ancestry, but when the war ended he was considered a foreigner and lost all rights as a Japanese citizen. Instead of using his Korean name, he continued to use his Japanese name to avoid being considered a foreigner. 

Mr. Lee lived his entire life in Hiroshima. This week I received the sad news that he passed away, shortly before the 77th anniversary of the first atomic bomb being dropped. He was 93-years-old. I had photographed Mr. Lee several times when he came to New York to speak with students about the horrors of nuclear war and the importance of reconciliation.  He was a kind and thoughtful person who cared about others. He will be missed. 

This portrait is a part of my From Above project which a collection of portraits and reminiscences of atomic bomb and firebombing survivors from the Second World War.  From Above is permanently exhibited at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. It has also been exhibited in numerous international museums and exhibition spaces, including at the United Nations in New York and most recently in Dresden, Germany.It was released as a limited edition book available at https://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i=&i2=

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From Above at Gallery ef

Thursday, November 4th, 2021

..September 2021… …Tokyo…

From Above at Gallery ef. From Above, consists of portraits and reminiscences of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and WWII firebombing survivors from Dresden, Coventry, Tokyo, Wielun and  Rotterdam.

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Atomic Bomb Dome, 11:42pm

Friday, August 6th, 2021

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Setsuko Thurlow

Wednesday, July 7th, 2021

Today is the 4th anniversary of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).   On January 22nd (TPNW) it was enacted as international law.  Before this treaty nuclear weapons were the only weapons of mass destruction not banned by international law. 

Mrs. Setsuko Thurlow fought her entire life to see this treaty become reality.  I began photographing Mrs. Thurlow in 2011. From the moment we met her determination to fight for the abolition of nuclear weapons was evident.  She was 13 years old when the atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima. 

 “When I sit down to write down my recollections of that time, I have to brace myself to confront my memories of Hiroshima.

It is exceedingly painful to do this because I become overwhelmed by my memories of grotesque and massive destruction and death.” -Setsuko Thurlow

Everyday I think about the survivors I met in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.  Most have passed but their memory lives on when the treaty banning nuclear weapons arrives.


Mrs. Thurlow’s portrait is part of my project, From Above, which is a collection portraits and reminiscences of atomic bomb survivors and fire bombing survivors from the Second World War.  It will be exhibited at Gallery ef in Tokyo on September 1st-12th. 

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Emiko Okada

Sunday, April 11th, 2021

“We can only build peace through speaking to each other.
The color of our skin or nationality does not matter.”
-Emiko Okada

肌の色が違おうと、国が違おうと、
出会いを大事にしたいんです。
人と人で対話をして、平和を作っていきたいのです。

I received the sad news that Mrs. Emiko Okada passed away on April 9th.  I photographed Mrs. Okada in Hiroshima during 2010.  She experienced the atomic bomb when she was eight years old, at her home 2.8km from the hypocenter.  She devoted her life traveling the world to promote peace and the importance of nuclear disarmament. 

Although Mrs. Okada endured living a difficult life, she never spoke begrudgingly.  She describes herself as a “mouthpiece” for the departed.  

“My sister was 12 years old. She went out and never came back.”  Mrs. Okada’s elder sister has been missing since August 6th, 1945.  Mrs. Emiko’s daughter has struggled against an incurable disease that decreases the number of blood platelets, most likely caused by the radiation that Mrs. Okada was exposed to.  

I haven’t met many other individuals so devoted to teaching young people about peace and reconciliation. Mrs. Okada was 84 years old.

Mrs. Okada’s portrait 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 https://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=I1040&i=&i2=

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Miyoko Matsubara

Friday, January 22nd, 2021

“Man developed nuclear weapons.
We have to question the human heart.
People can decide to abandon them.
I believe we can abolish nuclear weapons.”

-Miyoko Matsubara, Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

On January 22nd the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will be enacted as international law.  I began photographing atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) in 2008 and will continue to do so until the last voice goes silent.

In 2011 these portraits were published as a book, From Above.  Everyday I think about the survivors I met in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.  Most have passed but their memory lives on when the treaty banning nuclear weapons arrives.

Mrs. Matsubara was 12 years old when the atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima. Her story details the hard life during and after the war and the passion she derived from living through those years. The atomic bomb left her severely burned with keloid scars covering most of the body. She experienced discrimination because of her appearance. In 1953 she was selected to be part of the Hiroshima Maidens program which made it possible for her to have corrective and cosmetic surgeries.

After Mrs. Matsubara dedicated her life to peace activism and helping other victims of war cope with the aftermath. She raised her elder brother’s three young children when he and his wife passed away.
My memories of the afternoon I spent with Mrs. Matsubara will be that she was always affable. Her spirit instantly brightened the room. She had suffered a stroke a couple of years prior but made it a priority to practice speaking English in the mirror so she didn’t lose her motor skills. She spoke to me in perfect English.

That afternoon was my only time with Mrs. Matsubara. I still remember all the details vividly because she left a permanent impression. She always had this glow about her. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to call her my friend.

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Setsuko Thurlow

Thursday, January 21st, 2021


“When I sit to write my recollections of that time, I have to brace myself to confront my memories of Hiroshima. It is exceedingly painful to do this because I become overwhelmed by my memories of grotesque and massive destruction and death.”

-Setsuko Thurlow, Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

On January 22nd the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will be enacted as international law. I began photographing Mrs. Thurlow in 2011. From the moment we met her determination to fight for the abolition of nuclear weapons was evident. She was 13 years old when the atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima.  Mrs. Thurlow was a prominent advocate of the treaty that will ban nuclear weapons.  She has waited almost all her life for this moment. 

Everyday I think about the survivors I met in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.  Most have passed but their memory lives on when the treaty banning nuclear weapons arrives.

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