Tsutomo Yamaguchi - only person to have survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki

[SQflyergirl]

Just skimming through Wikipedia when i found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi

He's still alive today - rather amazing story to have been in Hiroshima on the 6th of August 1945 AND Nagasaki three days later when both the bombs came down.

[kelvgoh]

6 August 1945, 8:15 am. Hiroshima



and the A-bomb dome - I think the only structure preserved from that fateful day

[9V-SIA]

Just skimming through Wikipedia when i found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi

He's still alive today - rather amazing story to have been in Hiroshima on the 6th of August 1945 AND Nagasaki three days later when both the bombs came down.

Fated...

But lucky ( or unlucky ) man

[phaleesy]

and the A-bomb dome - I think the only structure preserved from that fateful day

Ahhhhh... you took this from the opposite bank. I saw a group of really serious Japanese photographers (big cameras, tripod, etc) on the same side of the river. But they were standing to the right of where you took the picture. That position would have given you a diagonal view of the building, with the dome nearer you, and the river bank would be running parallel to the photo. Just something they might have been doing, picture composition wise.

I didn't hang around to take any pictures on this side of the river. I didn't even stop to point and shoot. I was in a hurry as always!

[kelvgoh]

The Japanese photographers with huge-ass kit are scary. They camp out at locations like hours before shooting time. And they're protective of their territory too.

but composition isn't one of my strong points. haha. i'm just a kiddie photog. I'll definitely try that angle the next time i'm in Hiroshima, probably in Feb. And hopefully this time I won't be rushing for a train (which I was when I took that photo).

[SQflyergirl]

has just passed on

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/as...ies/index.html

[Kyo]

How very sad to hear. More awareness of his story even though he has passed on needs to be done. RIP.

[SQflyergirl]

Some people called him the luckiest, or unluckiest man alive at the time.

But yes, I agree his story is remarkable, and is why this world needs to be reminded that Nuclear weapons are terribly destructive and I dare say, have no place in Human life.

[phaleesy]

Some people called him the luckiest, or unluckiest man alive at the time.

But yes, I agree his story is remarkable, and is why this world needs to be reminded that Nuclear weapons are terribly destructive and I dare say, have no place in Human life.

Another way of looking at things... if not for the atom bomb, how long do you think WWII would have dragged on? All across Asia and Europe?

I've heard stories from my granny about the Japanese occupation in Singapore. Conditions at that time were not pleasant. My paternal grandfather was one of those young men rounded up by the Japanese and never seen again.

I am not advocating the use of nuclear arms now. But at that point in 1945, some people would have considered its use was justified.

I spoke to one of the Japanese staff at the museum in Hiroshima. She apologized to me for what Japan did to my country (Singapore) during the war. I was touched but it did not affect me (or her) since we were both not directly affected by the war.

It's good that we all learn from our past mistakes.

[SQflyergirl]

Another way of looking at things... if not for the atom bomb, how long do you think WWII would have dragged on? All across Asia and Europe?

That was Harry Truman's line of thinking as well - not saying this is entirely wrong, cause he certainly believed WWII would have dragged on for quite a while more, like you.

On the other hand, there are some historians who believe that the Japanese war machine was on the verge of collapse anyway, and their rejection (or rather, ignoring) of the Potsdam declaration was nothing more than hot air - that they'd have gone kaput by themselves anyhow.

We'll never know, cause as you know, history tends to have a trend of being revisionist sometimes.....

[jhm]

Just a plug for the 1970's BBC 26-episode documentary, The World at War considered to be a definitive TV history of WWII and including interviews with many of the main characters who were then still alive.

The Bomb (February – September 1945)
The development of the atomic bomb, the ascendency of President Harry Truman, emerging splits in the Allies with Joseph Stalin, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ultimately leading to the surrender of Japan. Interviewees include Toshikazu Kase, Yoshio Kodama, Marquis Koichi Kido, Major General Charles Sweeney, Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, Alger Hiss, W. Averell Harriman, Lord Avon, McGeorge Bundy, John J. McCloy, General Curtis LeMay and Hisatsune Sakomizu.

You can find it on Youtube or as a DVD set (which I have).