by Caren Stelson
On August 9, 1945, the Japanese city of Nagasaki was
devastated by an atomic bomb.
Six-year-old Sachiko Yasui was playing near her house, within 0.6 miles
of the hypocenter. Miraculously, she survived, as did most of the rest of her
family – father, mother, uncle, sister Misa, and brothers Aki and Ichiro.
Two-year-old Toshi was killed. Within weeks, radiation sickness had claimed the
lives of her uncle and brothers. In the years that followed, cancer would
strike Sachiko’s remaining family, including herself. Sachiko became the sole
survivor.
For five decades after the bombing, Sachiko couldn’t speak
about her experiences. The trauma she endured and continues to endure would be
unbearable for many people. Yet her story is so important to the promotion of
peace and nuclear disarmament.
Sensitive, heart-rending, and unforgettable.
No comments:
Post a Comment