Tsutomu Yamaguchi(Sơn khẩu cường,Yamaguchi Tsutomu)(16 March 1916 – 4 January 2010) was a Japanesemarine engineerwho survived both theHiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombingsduringWorld War II.Although at least 160 people are known to have been affected by both bombings,[1]he is the only person to have been officially recognized by thegovernment of Japanas surviving both explosions.[2]
Tsutomu Yamaguchi | |
|---|---|
Sơn khẩu cường | |
 Tsutomu Yamaguchi in 2009 | |
| Born | 16 March 1916 |
| Died | 4 January 2010(aged 93) Nagasaki,Japan |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Employer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Known for | Hibakushaof both theatomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki |
| Movement | Nuclear disarmament |
| Spouse | Hisako (died 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
A resident ofNagasaki,Yamaguchi was inHiroshimaon business for his employerMitsubishi Heavy Industrieswhen the city was bombed at 8:15 AM, on 6 August 1945. He returned to Nagasaki the following day and, despite his wounds, returned to work on 9 August, the day of the second atomic bombing. That morning, while he was being told by his supervisor that he was "crazy" after describing how one bomb had destroyed the city, the Nagasaki bomb detonated.[3]In 1957, he was recognized as ahibakusha( "explosion-affected person" ) of the Nagasaki bombing, but was not officially recognized as a survivor of Hiroshima by the Japanese government until 24 March 2009. He died ofstomach canceron 4 January 2010, at the age of 93.
Early life
editYamaguchi was born on 16 March 1916 inNagasaki.He joinedMitsubishi Heavy Industriesin the 1930s and worked as adraftsmandesigningoil tankers.[4]
Second World War
editYamaguchi said he "never thought Japan should start a war". He continued his work with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, but soon Japanese industry began to suffer heavily as resources became scarce and tankers were sunk.[4]As the war dragged on, he was so despondent over the state of the country that he consideredhonor killinghisfamilywith an overdose ofsleeping pillsin the event that Japan lost.[4]
Hiroshima bombing
editYamaguchi lived and worked in Nagasaki, but in the summer of 1945 he was inHiroshimafor a three-month-long business trip.[4]On 6 August, he was preparing to leave the city with two colleagues, Akira Iwanaga and Kuniyoshi Sato, and was on his way to the train station when he realized he had forgotten hishanko(a type of identification stamp common in Japan) and returned to his workplace to get it.[5][6]At 8:15 a.m., he was walking towards the docks when the AmericanB-29 bomberEnola Gaydropped theLittle Boyatomic bombnear the centre of the city, only 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away.[4][7]Yamaguchi recalls seeing the bomber and two small parachutes, before there was "a great flash in the sky, and I was blown over".[6]The explosionruptured his eardrums,blinded him temporarily,and left him with seriousradiation burnsover the left side of the top half of his body. After recovering, he crawled to a shelter and, having rested, he set out to find his colleagues.[6]They had also survived and together they spent the night in anair-raid shelterbefore returning to Nagasaki the following day.[5][6]In Nagasaki, he received treatment for his wounds and, despite being heavily bandaged, he reported for work on 9 August.[4][8]
Nagasaki bombing
editAt 11:00 a.m. on 9 August 1945, Yamaguchi was describing the blast in Hiroshima to his supervisor, when the American bomberBockscardropped theFat Manatomic bomb over the city. His workplace again put him 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) fromground zero,but this time he was unhurt by the explosion.[7]However, he was unable to replace his now-ruined bandages and he suffered from a high fever and continuous vomiting for over a week.[4]
Later life
editDuring the Alliedoccupation of Japan,Yamaguchi worked as a translator for the occupation forces. In the early 1950s, he and his wife, who was also a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, had two daughters. He later returned to work for Mitsubishi designing oil tankers.[4]When the Japanese government officially recognized atomic bombing survivors ashibakushain 1957, Yamaguchi's identification stated only that he had been present at Nagasaki. He was content with this, satisfied that he was relatively healthy, and put the experiences behind him.[7]
As he grew older, his opinions about the use of atomic weapons began to change. In his eighties, he wrote a book about his experiences,Ikasareteiru inochi( "A Life Well-Lived" ), as well as a book of poetry,[9]and was invited to take part in a 2006 documentary about 165 double A-bomb survivors (known asnijū hibakushain Japan) calledTwice Survived: The Doubly Atomic Bombed of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,which was screened at theUnited Nations.[10]At the screening, he pleaded for the abolition of atomic weapons.[7]
Yamaguchi became a vocal proponent ofnuclear disarmament.[11]He told an interviewer, "The reason that I hate the atomic bomb is because of what it does to the dignity of human beings."[11]Speaking through his daughter during a telephone interview, he said, "I can't understand why the world cannot understand the agony of the nuclear bombs. How can they keep developing these weapons?"[7]
On 22 December 2009, Canadian film directorJames Cameronand authorCharles Pellegrinomet Yamaguchi while he was in a hospital in Nagasaki and discussed the idea of making a film about nuclear weapons. "I think it's Cameron's and Pellegrino's destiny to make a film about nuclear weapons", Yamaguchi said.[12]
Recognition by government
editAt first, Yamaguchi did not feel the need to draw attention to his double-survivor status.[7]However, in later life he began to consider his survival as destiny, so in January 2009, he applied for double recognition.[7]This was accepted by the Japanese government in March 2009, making Yamaguchi the only person officially recognized as a survivor of both bombings.[4][7]Speaking of the recognition, he said, "My double radiation exposure is now an official government record. It can tell the younger generation the horrifying history of the atomic bombings even after I die".[13]
Personal life
editYamaguchi was married to his wife Hisako (1920–2008),[14]and had three children. Their children, all of whom experienced serious health problems throughout their lives, were his son Katsutoshi (1946–2005), and daughters Toshiko (born 1948/1949) and Naoko. Yamaguchi's wife, also a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, died in 2008 at the age of eighty-eight; her cause of death wasliverandkidney cancer,likely related to health complications from the atomic bombing that she had experienced her entire life. At the time of his death, Yamaguchi was living with his daughter Toshiko in Nagasaki.[7]
Health
editYamaguchi lost hearing in his left ear as a result of the Hiroshima explosion. He also went bald temporarily and his daughter recalls that he was constantly wrapped in bandages until she was 12.[7][Note 1]Despite this, Yamaguchi went on to lead a healthy life.[7]Later in life, he began to suffer from radiation-related ailments, includingcataractsand acuteleukemia.[15]
His wife also suffered radiation poisoning fromblack rainexposure after the Nagasaki explosion and died in 2008 at the age of eighty-eight ofkidneyandliver cancer.All three of their children reported suffering from health problems, which they blamed on their parents' exposures to radiation.[7][16]
Death
edit
In 2009, Yamaguchi learned that he was dying ofstomach cancer.[7]He died on 4 January 2010, inNagasakiat the age of 93.[5][17][18][19][20]
BBC controversy
editOn 17 December 2010, theBBCfeatured Yamaguchi in its comedy programmeQI,referring to him as "The Unluckiest Man in the World".[21]BothStephen Fry,the host ofQI,and celebrity guests drew laughter from the audience in a segment that included examples ofblack humorsuch as asking if the bomb had "landed on him and bounced off".[22]A clip from the episode was uploaded by the BBC after the show but was later deleted. A BBC spokesperson toldKyodo News,"We instructed our crew to delete the file since we have already issued a statement that the content was not appropriate".[23]
The episode triggered criticism in Japan. Toshiko Yamasaki, Yamaguchi's daughter, appeared onNHK's national evening news and said: "I cannot forgive the atomic bomb experience being laughed at in Britain, which has nuclear weapons of its own. I think this shows that the horror of atomic bomb is not well enough understood in the world. I feel sad rather than angry".[24]
TheJapanese Embassy, London,wrote to the BBC protesting that the programme insulted the deceased victims of the atomic bomb. It was reported thatPiers Fletcher,a producer of the programme, responded to complaints with "we greatly regret it when we cause offence" and "it is apparent to me that I underestimated the potential sensitivity of this issue to Japanese viewers".[25]
On 22 January 2011, the BBC andTalkback Thamesjointly issued a statement.[clarification needed][26]In addition to the joint statement, the BBC delivered a letter fromMark Thompson,Director-General of the BBC, to the Japanese Embassy.[clarification needed][27]
See also
edit- Effects of nuclear explosions
- Effects of nuclear explosions on human health
- Jacob Beser,the only member of the strike crews for both Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^Quảng đảo ・ Nagasaki で２ độ bị bạo, ước １６０ người quảng đảo kỳ niệm quán が điều tra[160 Double A-bomb Survivors Found,Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victimssays.].Asahi Shimbun(in Japanese). 1 August 2005.
Quảng đảo, Nagasaki へ の nguyên bạo đầu hạ sau, lạng thị で２ độ bị bạo した khả năng tính の ある người が thiếu なくとも ước １６０ người に の ぼることが, quốc lập quảng đảo nguyên bạo chết không giả truy điệu bình thản kỳ niệm quán ( quảng đảo thị ) の điều tra で minh らかになった.
- ^"Double atomic bomb survivor dies in Japan".Tokyo:NBC News.Associated Press.6 January 2010.Retrieved25 January2011.
Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only person officially recognized as a survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings at the end of World War II, has died at age 93.
- ^Survivor's story (ABC News, Australia, uploaded 2010Jan6)
- ^abcdefghi"Tsutomu Yamaguchi".The Daily Telegraph.6 January 2010.Retrieved7 January2010.
- ^abcMcCurry, Justin (25 March 2009)."A little deaf in one ear – meet the Japanese man who survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki".The Guardian.London.Retrieved11 January2010.
- ^abcdLloyd Parry, Richard (25 March 2009)."The luckiest or unluckiest man in the world? Tsutomu Yamaguchi, double A-bomb victim".The Times.Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2014.Retrieved21 September2014.
- ^abcdefghijklmnMcNeill, David (26 March 2009)."How I survived Hiroshima – and then Nagasaki".The Independent.Retrieved26 March2009.
- ^"Mr Yamaguchi".vaguedirection.VagueDirection.
- ^Diehl, Chad; Yamaguchi, Tsutomu (2010).And the river flowed as a raft of corpses: the poetry of Yamaguchi Tsutomu: survivor of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.New York: Excogitating over Coffee Pub.ISBN978-1-4507-1297-2.OCLC691426162.
- ^"Twice Bombed, Twice Survived: Film Explores Untold Stories from Hiroshima & Nagasaki".Columbia University. 2 August 2006.Retrieved31 March2009.
- ^abRobbins, M W, ed. (August–September 2009). "Japanese Engineer Survived Atomic Strike on HiroshimaandNagasaki ".Military History Magazine.26(5). Wieder History Group: 8.
- ^"James Cameron meets Japanese atomic bomb survivor to discuss film".Splash News. 5 January 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 8 January 2010.Retrieved6 January2010.
- ^"Japanese man is a double A-bomb survivor".NBC News.25 March 2009.Retrieved11 January2010.
- ^Krulwich, Robert (18 July 2012)."If You Are Hit By Two Atomic Bombs, Should You Have Kids?".NPR.Retrieved1 August2023.
Shall We Have Children?... But by the early 1950s, Yamaguchi and his wife Hisako felt strong enough to try, and the early 50s, they had two girls, Naoko and Toshiko.
- ^McCurry, Justin (6 January 2010)."Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivor dies aged 93".The Guardian.London.Retrieved8 January2010.
- ^Nukes: The Broadcast,retrieved8 October2017
- ^Richard Lloyd Parry (7 January 2010)."Tsutomu Yamaguchi, victim of Japan's two atomic bombs, dies aged 93".The Times.Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2011.
- ^A bộ hoằng hiền; cung hạ chính mình (6 January 2010).Sơn khẩu cường さん chết đi: “8 nguyệt 6, 9 ngày は mệnh ngày” “Thanh き địa cầu” と đoản ca に tư い.Mỗi ngày jp(in Japanese).Retrieved6 January2010.
Mainichi Shimbun
[dead link] - ^"Japan survivor of both atomic bombs dies, aged 93".BBC News.6 January 2010.Retrieved7 January2010.
- ^"Double Atomic Bomb Survivor Dies in Japan".The New York Times.6 January 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 7 January 2010.
- ^BBC (13 December 2010)."The Unluckiest Man in the World".Retrieved21 January2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^Gavin J. Blair (24 January 2011)."BBC Apologizes for Atomic Bomb Jokes".The Hollywood Reporter.Tokyo.Retrieved24 January2011.
- ^Nhị trọng bị bạo giả に “Thế giới một vận が ác い nam” phát ngôn, anh ＢＢＣがネット ánh giống やっと trừ bỏ[BBC Finally Deletes the Video Clip].Sankei Shimbun(in Japanese). The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital.Kyodo News.24 January 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 28 January 2011.Retrieved24 January2011.
- ^Richard Lloyd Parry (22 January 2011)."BBC sorry for jokes about atom bomb survivor".The Times.London:The Australian.Retrieved22 January2011.
- ^"Japan protests to BBC over treatment of 'double A-bomb survivor'".Kyodo News.London: Japan Today. 21 January 2011.Retrieved21 January2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^"BBC offers apology about 'double A-bomb survivor'".London:Mainichi Shimbun.Kyodo News. 22 January 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 23 January 2011.Retrieved22 January2011.
QI never sets out to cause offence with any of the people or subjects it covers, however on this occasion, given the sensitivity of the subject matter for Japanese viewers, we understand why they did not feel it appropriate for inclusion
- ^Y đông cùng quý (25 January 2011)."BBC, Nhật Bản đại sứ quán に tạ tội の thư từ nhị trọng bị bạo giả cười った truyền"[BBC Sends Apology Letter to Japanese Embassy for Its Program Laughed at Double A-bomb Survivor].Asahi Shimbun(in Japanese). London.Retrieved25 January2011.
Ở anh Nhật Bản đại sứ quán は24 ngày, BBCから Trần Tạ の ý を biểu す thư từ を chịu け lấy った. Đại sứ quán によると, thư từ はBBC の トンプソン hội trưởng danh で21 ngày phó. Nhật Bản người coi thính giả ら の khí phân を hại したことを Trần Tạ する nội dung だったという.