On August 6, 1945, Chieko Kiriake, a 15-year-old student, witnessed a blinding light that marked the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States. This unprecedented event came despite Germany’s surrender, as World War Two raged on against Japan.

Chieko Kiriake – pictured before the atomic bomb attack – and now

The Aftermath and Struggle for Survival

Chieko, now 94, recalls carrying injured friends and using old oil to treat burns. Students like her were tasked with cremating their classmates. Despite the devastation, life began to return to Hiroshima, with grass growing and sparrows reappearing by the next spring.

Black rain, “like mud”, fell from the sky, says Michiko

The journey home “was a scene from hell”, says Michiko

Sueichi Kido remembers the blinding light of the bomb blast

The Hibakusha’s Lasting Pain

The hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, have endured lifelong health issues, discrimination, and loss. Their stories are now part of a BBC Two film, serving as a crucial reminder for future generations.

First-Hand Accounts of Tragedy

Michiko Kodama, 86, was only seven during the bombing. She describes the harrowing journey home and the black rain of radioactive material. Her family’s move before the bombing saved her life, but the trauma lingers.

As the bomb exploded, a mushroom cloud rose above Hiroshima

Determination to Prevent Recurrence

Sueichi Kido, 83, was five when the Nagasaki bomb hit. Despite the burns and devastation, he and other survivors have tirelessly advocated against nuclear weapons, emphasizing their unique responsibility to humanity.

Kiyomi Iguro, in her teens, wearing traditional dress

Kiyomi hoped for a peaceful planet without nuclear weapons and war

A Call for Peace

Kiyomi Iguro, who experienced the Nagasaki bombing at 19, faced societal pressures and personal loss. She spent her last years advocating for peace, ringing the bell at Nagasaki’s Peace Park.

The hibakusha’s collective mission is clear: to ensure the horrors they endured are never repeated.