Harrowing Accounts from Hiroshima Survivors

Smithsonian Channel

20 Aug 201504:24

Summary

TLDRThe harrowing script depicts the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Survivors, their bodies burned and disfigured, wander through a city reduced to ruins. Yashi, a witness, describes the ghostly procession of injured, with one soldier revealing a 'new type of bomb.' Amidst the chaos, a local photographer documents the devastation, while a young boy is saved from his burning school. Yashi, in shock, communicates the city's annihilation to regional headquarters, highlighting the introduction of nuclear warfare.

Takeaways

🌑 The script describes a scene of extreme darkness caused by smoke and dust, creating a mushroom cloud.
👻 It mentions ghostly figures of people who appear unrecognizable due to severe burns and injuries.
🔥 Survivors are depicted with hair standing up, bodies burned and swollen, and missing parts.
🏭 The city is in ruins, with a soldier on the ground suffering from burns, indicating a catastrophic event.
📸 A local photographer finds people trying to treat their wounds with cooking oil on the morning of August 6th.
👶 A 7-year-old boy, Tekashi Tanori, is rescued from the ruins of his school by a soldier.
🗣️ A man, unrecognizable due to burns, pleads for water amidst the chaos.
🚋 Tetsushi Yanazawa and his mother survive near Ground Zero, shielded in a crowded tram, while others around them are killed.
📞 Yashi AA, upon returning to her post, manages to find a working phone to communicate the devastation in Hiroshima.
💥 The communication officer struggles to convey the scale of the disaster, mentioning a 'new type of bomb'.

Q & A

What is the description of the scene immediately after the explosion as described in the script?
-The scene is described as extremely dark due to smoke and dust, with people appearing ghostly, their hair standing up towards the sky, bodies burned black and swollen, parts missing, and covered in blood with tattered clothes.
What does the term 'mushroom cloud' refer to in the context of the script?
-The 'mushroom cloud' refers to the distinctive cloud formation that results from a nuclear explosion, characterized by a large, flat base and a stem topped with a bulbous cloud.
Who is Yashi AKA and what does she witness upon reaching the door of the communications bunker?
-Yashi AKA is a character who, upon reaching the door of the communications bunker, witnesses her city in ruins and a soldier on the ground suffering from burns.
What does the soldier on the ground tell Yashi AKA about the cause of the devastation?
-The soldier tells Yashi AKA that they have been hit by a new type of bomb, which is later understood to be a nuclear bomb.
What did the local photographer find on the morning of August 6th, and how were the people trying to treat their wounds?
-The local photographer found a group of burned people trying to soothe their wounds with cooking oil.
How was 7-year-old Tekashi Tanori saved from the burning school?
-Tekashi Tanori was pulled from the ruins of his burning school by a soldier and carried into the city.
What was the condition of the man that the soldier found clutching 11-year-old Tetsushi Yanagisawa?
-The man was unrecognizably burned, with scars and marks, and was pleading for water.
How close were Tetsushi Yanagisawa and his mother to Ground Zero, and what protected them from the blast?
-Tetsushi Yanagisawa and his mother were only 750 yards from Ground Zero and were shielded from the blast by being surrounded by other people in a crowded tram.
What was Yashi AKA's role after the explosion, and what did she do to communicate the news?
-Yashi AKA returned to her post in the communications bunker and, after finding a working phone, reached an officer in Regional headquarters to communicate that Hiroshima had been annihilated by a new type of bomb.
What was the initial reaction of the officer in Regional headquarters when Yashi AKA reported the destruction of Hiroshima?
-The officer did not understand what Yashi AKA was saying and asked for clarification on what she meant by 'annihilated.'
How did Yashi AKA explain the situation to the officer in Regional headquarters?
-Yashi AKA explained the situation by recalling what the soldier on the embankment had said about being hit by a new type of bomb.

Outlines

00:00

🌋 'Hiroshima Aftermath: A Haunting Vision'

The paragraph describes the harrowing aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It paints a vivid picture of the scene, with individuals appearing ghostly and disfigured, their hair standing on end, bodies burned and swollen, and clothes tattered. Yashi, a character in the narrative, stumbles upon the devastation and witnesses the suffering of a soldier, who informs her of a 'new type of bomb.' The narrative also includes the experiences of a local photographer, a young boy named Tekashi Tanori, and Tetsushi Yanazawa and his mother, who narrowly escape the blast's direct impact. Yashi, in her role at the communications bunker, attempts to convey the extent of the destruction to an officer, highlighting the confusion and disbelief that met her report.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mushroom Cloud

A mushroom cloud is the distinctive, cloud-like formation that results from a large explosion, typically associated with nuclear detonations. In the video, the mushroom cloud is a central visual symbol of the catastrophic event that has occurred, representing the immediate aftermath of the bomb's detonation. It is described as dark due to the smoke and dust, which obscures the sky and casts a shadow over the scene.

💡Ghostly Procession

The term 'ghostly procession' is used to describe a group of people who appear as if they are not of this world, often due to their appearance being drastically altered by trauma or disaster. In the context of the video, this phrase captures the haunting image of the survivors, their bodies burned and disfigured, moving through the ruins of the city in a scene that is both surreal and deeply tragic.

💡Annihilated

To be 'annihilated' means to be completely destroyed or wiped out. In the video, the city of Hiroshima is described as 'annihilated,' emphasizing the totality of the devastation caused by the bomb. This word choice underscores the unprecedented scale of destruction and the profound impact on the city and its inhabitants.

💡Burns

Burns refer to injuries to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or chemicals, radiation, or electricity. The script describes individuals suffering from burns, indicating the immediate physical harm caused by the bomb's intense heat and radiation. The burns are a stark reminder of the human cost of the event.

💡Tattered Clothes

Clothing that is 'tattered' is ripped or torn into pieces, often as a result of extreme force or exposure to harsh conditions. In the video, the mention of tattered clothes on the survivors serves to visually convey the extent of the devastation and the chaos of the scene, as well as the personal loss experienced by the victims.

💡New Type of Bomb

The phrase 'new type of bomb' refers to a weapon with unprecedented destructive capabilities, in this case, the atomic bomb. The script highlights the novelty and the terrifying power of this weapon, which was responsible for the catastrophic event. The soldier's mention of a 'new type of bomb' signifies the dawn of a new era of warfare and the beginning of the nuclear age.

💡Ground Zero

Ground Zero is the point on the Earth's surface directly above, below, or at which a nuclear explosion or any other large explosion occurs. In the video, being '750 yards from Ground Zero' indicates the proximity of the characters to the epicenter of the blast, emphasizing the intensity of the experience and the miraculous survival against the odds.

💡Communications Bunker

A communications bunker is a fortified structure designed to protect communication equipment and personnel during a conflict. In the video, the communications bunker is a critical location for the character trying to send out news of the disaster. It symbolizes the struggle to maintain communication and inform the world about the unprecedented event that has just occurred.

💡Regional Headquarters

Regional headquarters typically refers to a central office or command center for a specific geographic area. In the context of the video, the officer at the regional headquarters represents the chain of command and the initial point of contact for reporting the disaster. The communication with the regional headquarters highlights the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action.

💡Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a city in Japan that was the target of the first atomic bomb dropped on a populated area during World War II. The mention of Hiroshima in the video is central to the narrative, as it was the site of this historical tragedy. The city's name is synonymous with the devastating effects of nuclear warfare and the beginning of the nuclear age.

💡Soldier

A soldier is a member of an armed force or army, often involved in combat or military operations. In the video, soldiers are depicted as both witnesses and participants in the aftermath of the bombing, providing aid to the injured and conveying the severity of the situation. Their presence underscores the military context of the event and the human element amidst the chaos.

Highlights

Darkness due to smoke and dust creating a mushroom cloud.

Descriptions of people appearing ghostly with hair standing up and bodies burned and swollen.

Accounts of individuals with missing body parts and tattered clothes.

Yashi AKA's discovery of her city in ruins upon reaching the communications bunker.

Encounter with a soldier suffering from burns who mentions a 'new type of bomb'.

Local photographer's account of finding burned people trying to soothe their wounds with cooking oil.

7-year-old Tekashi Tanori's rescue from his burning school by a soldier.

Unrecognizable man, burned and scarred, begging for water amidst the chaos.

11-year-old Tetsushi Yanazawa and his mother's survival in a crowded tram near Ground Zero.

Yashi AA's return to her post to send news of the disaster in Hiroshima.

Challenge in communicating the extent of the destruction to regional headquarters.

Use of the phrase 'new type of bomb' to describe the unprecedented event.

Desperate attempts to make the officer at regional headquarters understand the situation.

The shock and disbelief expressed by the person at the other end of the line.

The struggle to convey the reality of the situation to those not directly affected.

The aftermath of the bombing as seen through the eyes of survivors and witnesses.

The immediate and long-term effects of the 'new type of bomb' on the people and city of Hiroshima.