VOSHN 160

<body><a href="../index.html">HOME</a><br><table summary="149"><tr><td class="etesti">149</td><td class="edate">August 9<sup>th</sup>, 1945.  Immediately after the explosion</td><td class="eage">35 years old at that time</td></tr><tr><td class="ei_midasi" colspan=3>People were dead with their eyes open</td></tr></table><div class="largep"><p>We were working at the factory built in the cave shelter under the Gaijin-Bochi<sup><span class="red">1</span></sup> in Sakamoto-machi (district).  The ray and the blast came in, and we said to each other,</p><p> "What is that?"</p><p>"We were safe in the shelter."</p><p>"Let's check it out."</p><p>We dug the small hole through which one person could pass, and went out.  And out there, you know, corpses were everywhere.  They were all naked.</p><p>"Oh, my god!  This is really horrible!"</p><p>All corpses' eyes were open.  I think they even had no time to close their eyes.  I prayed only with my one hand in front of my chest, thinking, "Please forgive me."  Tears flood over my eyes just as I am telling you this story, you know.  When I think about that moment, my tears start running.</p><br><p>We couldn't walk without stepping on the dead people then.  We stepped on the corpses and kept running, saying in our hearts, "Please forgive us."  There were people still alive, who you can no longer recognize them as a man or woman, with blood splashed over their bodies and their bodies were burning.  They were shouting,</p><p> "Help me."  How woeful was that I couldn't help them!  How shameful was that I could do nothing!  It was what people call "the living hell."</p><br><div class="cap"><span class="red">1</span>) Gaijin-Bochi: Gaijin=Foreigners  Bochi=Cemetery<br>    The International Cemetery where non-Japanese residents and Japanese Christians were buried.  In spite of the national isolation policy between 16 and early 19century, Nagasaki has its long history as the trading port since 16 century.  Those people buried in the cemetery include merchants, sailors, soldiers, doctors, ambassadors as well as Christians.<br>    References:<a href="http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/nagasaki/11.html" target="_blank">http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/nagasaki/11.html</a><br>    (Top Page:<a href="http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/nagasaki/" target="_blank">http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/nagasaki/index.html</a>)</div></div></body>