What Happened To The Bodies At Hiroshima And Nagasaki?

Summary

The video script delves into the harrowing aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, highlighting the immense human toll and the challenges in determining accurate death counts. It discusses the physical and psychological effects on survivors, the mishandling of remains for medical research, and the long-term health consequences. The script also touches on the cultural and historical significance of memorials and the enduring quest for peace and understanding.

Takeaways

• 💥 The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in significant death tolls, with estimates ranging from 110,000 to 210,000 combined, but exact figures are difficult to determine due to population record inaccuracies and chaos post-bombing.
• 🔍 The immediate aftermath saw many people turned to dust and ash, or washed out to sea, making it challenging to count the deceased accurately.
• 🌪️ Uncontrolled fires and debris led to the cremation or burial of many bodies, complicating the identification and counting of victims.
• 📚 The American Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission collected body parts and specimens for study, often anonymizing the victims and causing controversy and distress among the Japanese.
• 🧪 There was a significant lack of proper record-keeping and mislabeling of specimens sent to the U.S., leading to a loss of individual identities and national outrage in Japan.
• 🏥 The first person officially recorded to have died from radiation poisoning was actress Midori Naka, highlighting the long-term health effects of the bombings.
• 🗼 The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound in Hiroshima holds the ashes of 70,000 unclaimed or unidentified individuals, symbolizing the scale of the tragedy.
• 🌿 Some survivors and their families faced unique and heartbreaking conditions, such as glass growing out of skin and the development of keloids, indicating the lasting physical impact of the bombings.
• 💧 There are accounts of victims dying after drinking water, suggesting that even attempts at relief could be fatal due to severe internal injuries.
• 🔬 The Manhattan Engineer District's report indicated that most immediate deaths were caused by burns and falling debris, rather than radiation alone.
• 🕊️ The Peace Park in Hiroshima, built on the site of a former Buddhist temple used as a crematorium, serves as a reminder of the bombings and the call for peace.

Q & A

What were the estimated death tolls for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

The most cited figures for the combined death tolls of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are between 110,000 and 210,000. However, the exact numbers are uncertain due to chaotic conditions and unreliable population records at the time.

How did the Manhattan Project's Chief Medical Officer, Col. Stafford Warren, describe the challenges in determining the death tolls?

Col. Stafford Warren testified before Congress, stating that population records were unreliable and it was difficult to distinguish between those who had died and those who had fled. He admitted that the figures they provided were more guesses than definitive numbers.

Why were some bodies from the bombings turned into dust and ash?

Scores of people at the epicenter of the blast were instantly turned to dust and ash due to the immense heat and force of the explosions, which scattered them on the wind.

What happened to the bodies of victims who sought relief in the rivers after the bombings?

Victims who went to the rivers to alleviate their burning pain often died there, and their remains were carried out to sea by the water currents.

What was the official number of bodies cremated in Nagasaki according to the records?

Nagasaki's official records listed 40,000 bodies that had been cremated. Col. Warren suggested that an additional 20-30,000 bodies remained unrecovered for various reasons.

How did the process of mass cremations affect the perception of human dignity according to Masako Wada?

Masako Wada recalled the desensitization and numbness that people experienced due to the incessant cremations, questioning the treatment of human beings as if they were burned like garbage.

What was the first cause of death officially listed as radiation poisoning and who was the victim?

The first cause of death officially listed as radiation poisoning was actress Midori Naka, who survived the initial blast but later succumbed to radiation sickness.

How did the American medical professionals' involvement in the aftermath of the bombings affect the survivors and their families?

The American medical professionals' involvement led to the collection and study of body parts and specimens, often without proper identification or consent, which was perceived as a second victimization of the survivors and their families.

What was the role of the American Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in the study of the survivors?

The American Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission was set up to study the survivors, collect body parts for research, and learn more about the effects of radiation sickness, but their practices were controversial and viewed as body-snatching.

When were the remains collected from the bomb victims returned to Japan and what was included in the return?

The remains collected from the bomb victims were returned to Japan in May 1973. The return included around 23,000 items such as photos, pieces of clothing, organs, brains, and eyes preserved in formaldehyde.

What is the significance of the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound and how does it relate to the bombing victims?

The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound is a 16-ton dome of earth topped by a small pagoda, built on the site of a former Buddhist temple that served as a makeshift crematorium. It contains the ashes of 70,000 people, including those discovered during the cleanup process, symbolizing the collective memory and mourning of the victims.

What were the immediate causes of death for the victims of the atomic bombings according to the 1946 report by the Manhattan Engineer District?

The 1946 report found that only about 7% of immediate deaths were caused by radiation, while 60% of the deaths in Hiroshima were caused by burns and 30% by falling debris. At Nagasaki, burns accounted for an astonishing 95% of the deaths.

What are some of the long-term health effects experienced by the survivors of the atomic bombings?

Long-term health effects experienced by survivors include high instances of illnesses such as cancer and leukemia, as well as other issues like anemia, tumors, thyroid problems, miscarriages, and mental health struggles like survivors' guilt.

How did the shadows etched on sidewalks and pavement around the cities come to be and what do they represent?

The shadows are not the result of people being vaporized but rather places that were protected from the heat and light of the intense blast because the energy was absorbed by the people standing there. The surrounding areas were bleached by the light, leaving the darker spots where people had shielded the ground behind them.