VOSHN 169

<body><a href="../index.html">HOME</a><br><table summary="158"><tr><td class="etesti">158</td><td class="edate">August 9<sup>th</sup>, 1945.  Around 1:00 pm.</td><td class="eage">38 years old at that time</td></tr><tr><td class="ei_midasi" colspan=3>All of them sang the Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo".</td></tr></table><div class="largep"><p>All the boys and girls working in the factory of "Mitubishi" came to evacuate into the shelter where I was at.  Every child's hair was standing on end and their clothes were tattered.  All their bodies had been bloody and their faces had got black.  They looked just like "Ofudosan(Acala)"<sup><span class="red">1</span></sup> .  You can't tell if it's a boy or girl.</p><br><p>They came into the shelter, just like water flew downward.  I also went into the shelter with them.  Inside there was no light and it was pitch-dark.  They entered, crying aloud.  I didn't know why they were crying, whether it was because they were upset or in any pain.  Not all of them were crying, but their cries were ringing aloud inside the shelter.</p><br><p>I felt miserable and wanted them to stop crying.  I started to sing the Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo".  When I began, the children were still crying.  But when I sang for the second time, their cries faded out gradually.  Then the boys and girls began to sing with me and I was really glad.</p><p>I thought, "How deeply 'Kimigayo' touches these children!"</p><br><div class="cap"><span class="red">1</span>) Ofudo-san; One of the protectors of Buddhism.  It commonly has a fearsome appearance.</div></div></body>