Takaaki (James) Morikawa- Oral History and Interview
80 years old.
[Transcribed from 03:07.]
Oral history/ interview:
[03:07]
Morikawa-san:
Today I will speak to share with you the story of the Atomic bombing to Hiroshima 73 years ago at my age of 6. I am Hibakusha or Atomic bomb victim. The purpose of my speech today is for you to understand the Hiroshima tragedy of A-bombing 1945, and as a suggestion how to abolish the nuclear weapons from our planet. I am volunteer speaker of A-bomb experience in and out of Japan for young people like you because we don’t want to put anyone through to agony which we have experienced 73 years ago.
Have you ever been to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park?
Shimasaki-san:
Yes, I have visited there.
Morikawa-san:
Ok, so, please remember the typical three figures on the screen which come out my talk today.
First, 314,118 is the registered names of Hiroshima A-bomb victims died since 1945 and enshrined to the cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park till August 6, 2018, last year. This number includes my parents, and I will be in when I pass away.
Second, 154, 859 is the A-bomb certificate holders of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors who still alive, as of March 3, 2018.
I will show you this certificate later and explain why I have two types of notes.
Third, 14,450 is estimated number of nuclear warheads possessed by nine nuclear nations as of June 2018.
73 years ago, Hiroshima was turned to ash by a single A-bomb and yet the people were able to achieve their current prosperity, so Hiroshima has another side to its history. Hiroshima rose like a phoenix from the ashes after WWII. The Peace Memorial Park is a Mecca where we are sending our message for the abolition of nuclear weapons to the world.
Hiroshima is now in full of life and enjoys its prosperity. You can hardly see any trace of the wartime at all. These photos are scenes of Hiroshima today. The current population is 1.2 million and it is 10th largest city in Japan whereas the population was 350,000 during the war.
Among Hiroshima’s industries manufacturing Mazda cars and aero-parts supply to Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier Aircrafts by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have contributed to economic growth to Hiroshima. Incidentally I have worked to Mazda Motor Corporation for 37 years long.
Hiroshima has many tourist attractions, and it receives more than 13 million visitors every year. The photo in the centre is Peace memorial park which was constructed as an expression for our sincere desire for lasting peace on the globe after WWII. Before the A-bombing this area was called Nakajima, and where my hometown was.
So far, I have explained briefly about Hiroshima present day. However, whenever we talk about Hiroshima, we have to remember the occurrence that is called the 20th century’s most horrible tragedy.
This old map shows my hometown of Nakajima 73 years ago. There were 4,400 people living here enjoying a happy and fairly peaceful existence before A-bombing. Most of the people here died instantly by the A-bombing since this area is very close to the hypocentre. My family lived about 300 metres away from the hypocentre, and 200 metres west from my house there was my kindergarten. Even in wartime kindergarteners played, sang, and danced every day. I was a healthy, vigorous boy of six.
I introduce my family in 1945. Father, Hiroshi 35 years old, broadcasting engineer of Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station. Mother, Akiko, housewife, 32 years old and Mikiko elder sister, 9 years old. A lady standing behind us is my aunt, Kikue Kanda who also died by the A-bomb. I will touch on the story of my family and Kikue Kanda’s today.
[10:10]
Morikawa-san:
Can you see the three figures?
Shimasaki-san:
Yes.
Morikawa-san:
This picture shows three mannequins of A-bomb victims, mother with boy and girl who are wandering in the ruin of Hiroshima just after the A-bombing detonated above Hiroshima sky. Three figures which actually evoked and exhibited in A-bomb Museum told us their pain, horror, misery, and sorrow caused by a single evil bomb. But they were removed away by officials because of negative impact to the children.
I used to imagine three figures to overlap my family, Akiko, Makiko, and myself.
If we didn’t evacuate from Hiroshima city to the suburbs, we might be ghosts like this. I will tell you my family story of the A-bombing.
Hiroshima was doomed to have the day unlike any humankind ever experienced in its history. People started their normal lives after the air alert was lifted in the early morning. Three B-29 bombers secretly flew into the Hiroshima sky and a single evil bomb was dropped on the centre of the city. That was 8:15am, Monday, August 6th, 1945. That was when the time stopped for us. Please look at two pictures of my hometown Nakajima right side which was completely vanished from the ground away.
Look at the two pictures.
[12:49]
I am sure you will wonder why I and my family were saved from the A-bombing.
Ok, I will tell you.
Hiroshi as a broadcasting engineer in wartime was in a position to monitor the war propaganda broadcasted by the Allied Forces. He had a hunch that something would happen in the near future to Hiroshima. Five months before the A-bombing he decided to move his family to his mother’s home on March 18 which was 10 kilometres away from Hiroshima. This is first miracle for us.
Unfortunately, I fell critically ill, then got pneumonia and needed to have the urgent surgery. Dr Kanda, my uncle in charge did not take me to his hospital in Hiroshima. Instead, I was hospitalised in a suburban hospital with my family on June 17,
2 months before A-bombing in concerning anticipated air raid to Hiroshima.
Dr Kanda performed an operation for me accordingly. This is second miracle.
Thanks to Hiroshi’s appropriate decision as well as Dr Kanda’s judgement we were miraculously survived from the A-bombing.
[14:42]
Shimasaki-san:
The hospital was 10 kilometres away.
Morikawa-san:
In the morning of August 6th, Hiroshi left the hospital and entered the Hiroshima city while Akiko was making the rice porridge for us. It was 8:15am.
All of a sudden, the eastern sky became dazzling white and a big bang with an air shock smashed the glass windows. Shattered glass fell into the room. Akiko instantly tried to cover her children to protect us from falling glass. We had no idea what was happening. All we could do was to pray to God and wait for time to pass. Getting back to normal needed some time and when I saw rice porridge in the pot it was covered with fragments of broken glass. And I, small boy, cried over it because I couldn’t eat it. That is my first experience. Bright lighting, big bang, and the glass which attacked us. This was the situation as we were in the hospital room.
But in half an hour or so when we had gotten out of the building many people gathered and looked up at the Hiroshima sky talking to each other about what had happened in Hiroshima city. Soon it became darkened with rain, smoky cloud rising from the eastern ridge. About that time much fallout, burnt papers, soot and dust fell onto our heads. Children romped around, grabbed the burnt papers flying. And then it started to rain with big drops, but it was not normal rain, it was sticky black rain which was not easily removed from the skin and the clothes. That was when I was exposed to the radiation of A-bomb. Akiko urged us to run back into the building.
We fell into an abyss of anxiety over Hiroshi’s safety, because he didn’t come back for two days. When he appeared, he was dragging a foot, but we were crazy with gladness and relief.
[18:03]
Twisted the ankle. Uh, sprained his ankle.
The hospital, as far as we stayed was small and not well equipped. But in the evening, victims looking like a ghost flocked to the hospital asking for help. Many victims came to visit our hospital as far as we were there. I still remember the screaming, the groaning from next door but it became silent by the next morning. For six-years boy I was very terrified to see them because they looked like red ghosts (≒bloody ghost). This is my experience anyway. We were somewhere around here under the cloud. At that time, my father was at the centre of the city.
Shimasaki-san:
City- Near ground zero?
Morikawa-san:
1 kilometre from the hypocentre.
Shimasaki-san:
Oh.
Morikawa-san:
So, black rain and fallout we encountered under the cloud here. 10 kilometres from the hypocentre. The two upper pictures show the conditions, the fallout and the area of black rain that fell soon after the explosion where we were. We took radiation- contaminated food and well water over the years because we had no information or knowledge about radiation. During the war it was difficult to get food stuffs or daily goods, so we have to obtain the bare necessities of life necessary from the farmers.
And water, we have no tap water. We have to take the water from the well. So, it was contaminated by that black rain.
[21:10]
Thus, I was exposed to radiation accordingly. 2009 I applied to the local government to issue the certification of the black rain victim, then I have to report to the doctor to have regular health check-ups every six months. I will show you. This is certification
of the black rain. Every six months I have to report. This strip is a record of my health check-ups, I continuously go to the hospital like this.
Shimasaki-san:
How long have you had that [the a-bomb certificate] for?
Morikawa-san:
Uh, almost, nearly 10 years’ time. I used this blue notebook. However, it is sad to tell on the certificate note, the local government changed blue to pink.
Shimasaki-san:
Pink. Ok, what does…
Morikawa-san:
Because, I was told from my doctor, Dr Sanda, that cancer was found. That was happened last year, September 2018.
Shimasaki-san:
I’m sorry to hear that.
Morikawa-san:
So, I reported to the city office, and they issued this certificate note. This is why I have two certifications.
Shimasaki-san:
So, you’d have to keep both?
Morikawa-san:
No this is, uh, void. Non-effective… So I am using this.
Shimasaki-san:
Do you get covered medical by having that book?
Morikawa-san:
Yes, you have some questions.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes
14:
I will tell you later.
My other concern is the influence of radiation passed on to inherit to the generation of children and grandchildren. I have three daughters; I have six grandkids. One day one of my daughters told me, “Dad am I second generation Hibakusha?” I was very heart ached. I have no, uh, I am not so brave to tell the true story to her, but she knows everything. But anyway, this is my story.
[24:28].
Ok, back to my father’s story. When the A-bombing he was in the broadcasting building and fortunately he narrowly escaped, only with a sprained ankle. The inside of the building was completely destroyed and soon flames engulfed everything including the machines and equipment, men and women, and 34 staff members were killed in the building. Hiroshi and his staff members who survived tried to inform the situation to the neighbouring stations of what was happened in Hiroshima. However, because of no power supply they gave it up and decided to evacuate the burning building to the transmitting stations 5 kilometres away to the north. Think about Hiroshima in raging flames, you imagine every house and bridge were collapsed and enveloped in roaring flames. That’s why they obliged to swim to cross the river.
Shimasaki-san:
Did they pass ground zero going that way?
Morikawa-san:
Not at all basically, in walking through the ground zero. However, they obliged to walk through the burning city in heading to north. Hiroshi and his staffs, yes, his three subordinates, evacuated from the broadcasting station to the transmitting station.
Arriving at the transmitting station in the afternoon they tried to inform the situation to the neighbouring station and they barely connected Okayama station from Hiroshima station and then they successfully dispatched the first message that Hiroshima was annihilated and 170,000 were killed. You know, 170,000 it came from the half the population of the city because 350,000 is the approximate population of the city at the time. So, during the escaping to the transmitting station they thought half of the population would be killed. So, they made the number that 170,000 were killed.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes.
Morikawa-san:
This is uh…
Shimasaki-san:
Just an estimate?
Morikawa-san:
Mmm.
However, the imperial headquarters in Tokyo didn’t believe that one bomb killed 170,000 and then the message did not go up to the emperor.
Hiroshi did not talk about his experience for a long time to other people, even his family. It was too painful to speak about his memories of that cruel sight and hellish experience. Hiroshi died in 1973 by late onset liver cancer. The time when he was encountered the A-bomb was 35 years, and he passed away at age of 63.
Right, this picture was drawn by Ms. Yasuko Yamagata who saw a dead mother holding her baby in her arms in front of the broadcasting station building. When Hiroshi escaped from the burning building, he saw a baby whose skin was completely peeled exposing reddish flesh. The baby was trying to climb up the steps of the front entrance of the building. He stroked the baby’s head and put the baby back to the arms of the mother who already died. He left there praying for baby’s long life. Later, Hiroshi described his feeling about this baby, that the warmth of the baby’s head and its cute eyes continuously tortured his heart. This is one of the stories as far as he told me and I found this picture hanging on the wall of the A-bomb museum, so I took the picture and use this for my presentation.
My mother’s parent’s home was in Hiroshima city. The people on the screen are my grandparents, uncle, aunts, and cousins on my mother’s side. Almost all of them were killed but some of them are still suffering with A-bomb diseases even now. Hearing the situation of the Hiroshima from Hiroshi, Akiko decided to enter the ruin of Hiroshima to make sure their existence. This affected her with radioactive contamination. After three years of Hiroshi’s death, Akiko passed away at the age of 64 due to late-onset stomach cancer after a long battle with chronic fatigue syndrome.
It is difficult for me to describe the history of everyone on the screen in my limited time today. I will tell you the story of some of them. Have a look at the picture, only these two ladies are still alive. This girl died on her father’s back while they were evacuating from the burning city. And the other uncle and aunt run their printing house in the current Peace Memorial Park, just 350 metres distance away from hypocentre to his place were killed instantly.
So, when my mother visited the place to search elder sister, she found just white powder. There is not ash or bone, just white powder. Because the vicinity of the hypocentre, 3000-4000 degrees Celsius. Terrible high.
This lady, my aunt, eldest sister in her family, she had no children, so she was very beautiful white skin that was her proud. But unfortunately, she encountered the A-bomb and the fragment of the glass attacked her. So many glasses hit her body. Just before she died, she asked me to touch her breast. “Takaaki, touch me” she said.
And I terribly touched the breast of her. Under her breast skin there was a fragment of glass, I felt it. When breathe her last, the breast horribly changed into violet. After her death I knew cause of death was breast cancer.
Because of the scars on her body caused by glass fragments she didn’t want to be hospitalized, up until her death and she refused to go to the hospital.
Shimasaki-san:
How long after the bombing was she diagnosed with the cancer? Please.
Morikawa-san:
She was encountered A-bomb at age of 55 and died 78 years old, so she has lived 23 years long after A-bombing. During her long life she has been suffering from the pain and various social discrimination. I will touch the example of the discrimination later.
Ok, this is very big finding with this picture for me. Left picture was drown by Ms Fumiko Shinohara who is next door neighbour to Dr Kanda’s house and the hospital. When the A-bomb was dropped and detonated on the centre of the city she passed by in front of the Kanda hospital, she witnessed the Kanda family while she is holding her baby. The caption backside of this picture said in detail that the skull of the baby embraced by mother has been cut and opened then brain was visible.
Shimasaki-san:
The baby’s skull?
Morikawa-san:
She described on the backside of the picture that the baby’s skull is open, and the brain of the baby was visible. This was a situation at that time. And further she witnessed the situation of Kanda’s family.
When Aiko, my cousin, centre of the picture, looked up and saw B-29 bombers, A-bomb exploded and burned half of her body. She barely managed to survive, but she is still suffering from the typical A-bomb diseases even now.
Hidemi, a boy, right below, was trapped under the collapsed building and asked his father to help him from the coming flames. Dr Kanda, left in the picture, pulled on his hand but burned skin on Hidemi’s hand, stripped off and then he could not be pulled out. He burned to die. This is a story which was told from my mother. But, when I found this picture, I was very shocked, the detail of the situation of Kanda’s family was described backside of this picture. I was very shocked to know.
[40:19].
Ok, Mrs. Kanda’s situation, My aunt, Kikue Kanda, went out shopping in the morning. Her story was told to Hiroshi by a staff members of broadcasting station who spent a night next to Kikue who was laid in the roadside gutter of hillside. She evacuated to the hillside and she spent on that night. Beside of her one guy also
evacuated and two persons talked many things, and so the guy recognised that Mrs. Kanda was a relative of Hiroshi Morikawa. This is also a miracle. Right upper picture shows the situation of the said hillside. She was taken to the relief station but died and was cremated there.
Next one, Yuriko, my cousin survived at the plant where she was working as a mobilised student, but she could not go back home. She spent a night just watching the city burning on the hillside in western Hiroshima 2 kilometres from hypocentre. Picture right below shows situation of Hiroshima city burning. She is also suffering with A-bomb diseases now. So currently I have two cousins who are still alive.
In coming 4th of May, for the celebration of my 80th birthday I will invite my elder sister who is also A-bomb victim and ask to meet Aiko and Yuriko because I thought they would be short time to live. This is last chance for my elder sister to meet her, so I am now arranging those meetings.
Ok, at 8:15 am the gunner of the Enola Gay got the target of the T-shaped bridge in the centre of the city very close to the current Memorial Park. It is easy to recognise this T-shape as a target of the A-bombing, soon, the gunner realised the targeted bridge in his sight, and pressed the switch of the release equipment, the A-bomb fell away from the airplane. The first atomic bomb used against human beings detonated 43 seconds later. Approximately 600 metres above the ground, the atomic bomb exploded with a blinding flash creating the fireball that blazed like a small sun. The red area in the map was completely annihilated, the houses were crushed and burned completely. The yellow portion is 50 percent crushed and half burned.
[45:03]
Shimasaki-san:
Do you know far the yellow portion covers?
Morikawa-san:
2 kilometres radius. The diameter is 4 kilometres. Almost 8 kilometre the furthest place.
Shimasaki-san:
Ok.
Morikawa-san:
More than 1,000,000 degrees Celsius at its centre. In one second the fireball reached a maximum diameter of 300 metres and has a surface temperature in the vicinity of the hypocentre rose to 3,000-4,000 degrees Celsius. That is why, the human bodies which consist with more than 60 percent of water it instantly vapour. What was residue?
Not white bone, but white powder. This is the situation what is happened in Nakajima, my hometown.
In saying that, the four characteristics of A-bomb are: Radiation, Heat rays, Shock wave and blast, and Internal exposure by fallout.
I will explain the characteristics of the A-bombing in more detail.
First, the radiation. Unlike conventional bombs, the atomic bomb emitted massive amounts of radiation and it damaged the human organ. Most died within a few days. Many who appeared uninjured developed disorders and died days or months later since the explosion left residual radiation on the ground for a long period of time.
Second, the heat rays. The fireball blazed approximately 10 seconds and heat rays emitted in all directions which exerted powerful effect at ground level. People sustained severe burns from the powerful heat rays and thousands died as a direct result. The temperature on the ground was 3,000-4,000 degrees Celsius while the melting point of the iron is 1,500 degrees Celsius. But A-bomb emit 3-4,000 degree Celsius, can you imagine this?
Shimasaki-san:
3,000 degrees, yes- so much higher.
[48:07]
Morikawa-san:
Ok, Third, the shockwave and blast. The atomic explosion created a super high pressure of several hundred thousand atmospheres. The surrounding areas air expanded enormously generating a shockwave followed by the powerful blast wind. When the blast subsided the air pressure in the centre area was extremely low and the air rushed back from the surrounding area toward the point of the explosion. You can imagine how big the blast was, and the effect to this building in this way.
Fourth, most people were exposed by the radiation on the spot. This is external exposure. Besides, there are many people who ingested the food and water contaminated with the radioactive dust and or fallout and black rain and died. This is the case as far as I have experienced.
Once the radioactive particles get into the human organs from mouth, from nose, they continuously emit the radiation and kill the human cells- this is called internal exposure. Please have a look at the two photos right below. In 2009 Nagasaki university successfully photographed the plutonium alpha lays emitting from the fallout taken from the kidney of hibakusha more than 60 years ago with two black lines.
Farther, in 2015 Hiroshima university also photographed the uranium alpha lays emitting from the cell of lung cancer of hibakusha, Hiroshima lady who was encountered with black rain 70 years ago. Even the black rains effect the human organs more than 70 years.
Radioactive effect via the A-bomb caused the various disorders for the decade and continues to threaten the health of the survivors today. In early 1946 burns scars began to swell into keloids, in-utero survivors were born with microcephaly with attendant mental and physical disorders. Starting around 1950 up to now, the number of the patients swore with the A-bomb related diseases such as leukaemia and various cancers, this is the reality.
Here is the cenotaph in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park dedicated to the victims of the A-bomb and the stone chest which contains the register for those Hibakusha who have died since 1945. My father Hiroshi and my mother Akiko are also enshrined here. The inscription in the front of the stone chest tells, “Let all the souls here rest in peace. For we shall not repeat the evil”. It is our hope that people from everywhere will come to embrace the spirit of this words and the victim’s clamour, never put anyone through agony.
To prevent any repetition of the A-bomb tragedy the city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have continually sought to tell the world the inhumane cruelty of the nuclear weapons and have consistently urged that nuclear weapons be abolished. The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki called on mayors around the world to support the programme to promote the total abolition of nuclear weapons. The Mayors for Peace represents cities that have formally expressed their support for this programme, as of March the 1st, 2019 membership stood at 7,735 cities in 163 countries. If your city or town is not a member of the Mayors for Peace, I cordially invite you to ask to your mayors to join. You can find out the website mayorsforpeace.org. I am sure Auckland and Christchurch has already joined this organisation.
Shimasaki-san:
I would hope so. We are known as an anti-nuclear country.
[54:50].
Morikawa-san:
The 2020 vision as far as the organisation of Mayors for Peace is campaigning under the name of 2020 vision. This is a programme promoted by the Mayors for Peace to eliminate all nuclear weapons by 2020, this is the 75th anniversary of the A-bombing. But to be honest, too late. Next year. I think Mr. Matsui, the mayor of Hiroshima city is now scratching head, how to excuse, this is reality too.
Well, for me during my business time and even after retirement I have many occasions to speak Hiroshima story in Japan and overseas, I can say that we Hibakusha have continued to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons for a long time, and total peoples power made great contribution to nuclear disarmament. However, it is hard to say that we have a bright future without nuclear weapons beside aging and the decrease of the number of the hibakusha shows the limit of activities, then I wonder what the most effective and realistic strategies for abolition of the nuclear weapons is as far as we civilians can contribute to it.
This is a picture of the man. Do you know him?
Shimasaki-san:
I don’t think I do.
Morikawa-san:
The 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Do you know that man? That’s me, James Morikawa. I am presenting the embroidered picture of the Peace Memorial Park, A-bomb dome framed to Mr. Jimmy Carter.
This photo shows the local T.V. in Massachusetts US to which I was invited to speak.
This photo is march on New York, Manhattan. I made my speeches in Massachusetts in US, Germany, Hiroshima, and Washington. While I was the president of the Friendship Force International, Hiroshima branch, this organisation is something like exchanging friendship, crossing the border internationally, so we organised to send members to the different countries and to make a homestay.
Shimasaki-san:
Ok, yes.
Morikawa-san:
It is great fun for us…
Ok, so. Despite 73 years appeal for the inhumanity for the nuclear weapons and its abolition we cannot find out the equations for the abolition of the nuclear weapons yet. Under such situations I was moved to know the collaboration of the two peace organisations: ICAN and Peace Boat. ICAN: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and Peace Boat: voyaging around the world and appealing a nuclear ban to the politicians and people in the world.
The strategy of the ICAN is very clear as follows.
Looking back to the history of elimination the biological weapons, chemical weapons, antipersonnel landmines and cluster bombs were banned by international law. ICAN will position and stigmatise nuclear weapons to be absolute evil and insist the total abolition- this is really a nuclear ban treaty under international laws. The mission and concept of two parties are almost the same, that is why they cooperatively active towards zero nuclear.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes, so they work together.
Morikawa-san:
Next point, I paid attention was Peace Boat and its mission is to appeal inhumanity of the nuclear weapon all over the world, internationally, and contribute to making them illegal. Since 2008 Peace Boat project performed under the corporation of ICAN and the speech on A-bomb testimony by hibakusha like us has been conducted all over the world in order to convey the message of nuclear ban. Thus, I decided to apply the recruitment of the Peace Boat project in 2016 and took part in the voyage shipping in the middle of August.
[1:02:13].
I embarked this boat. The 104 days voyage by the Ocean Dream of Peace Boat left from Yokahama port August 18th 2016, with 5 Hibakusha including myself.
The ship has called at 25 ports in 21 countries and at every port A-bomb testimonies and appeal for the nuclear abolition were practised to the people and the politicians.
I have done my A-bomb testimony at Malaysia, India, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United Nations, New York city.
__________________________________________________________________________
Shimasaki-san:
When did you start giving speeches and testimonies?
Morikawa-san:
In overseas? Back to my life, for instance in New Zealand I had many occasions to talk about, either business or private, whatever. Always they ask me, “James, where did you come from?” “I came from Hiroshima, Japan”. This is the time when we start to tell. Not only in New Zealand, everywhere. I have visited 60 countries and I travelled overseas 150 times already, so that, this is not the first time to tell my testimony.
But after retirement I have a lot of free time so that I can concentrated to speak the testimony. That is why every month, day of 6th I used to go to Hachidori-sha or the Social book café to meet foreign people come to hear the testimony directly from the survivors like us. Mr. Futagawa is also telling his story, in-utero survivors…
Anyway, there were much memorable moments when I talked with some statesmen or politicians who are in charge of nuclear disarmament.
Shimasaki-san:
What made you want to tell your story?
Morikawa-san:
Basically, you know I’ve concentrated to talk the scenario or story of the speech as far as I made my speech today.
Shimasaki-san:
So, you have been speaking your story since the time it happened?
Morikawa-san:
Yes. This is a main point. I think I will touch my speech made in United Nations later in my talks today…
Shimasaki-san:
Can I get your opinion on nuclear weapons as well?
Morikawa-san:
Nuclear deterrence. It is a generally big argument, nuclear deterrent: either accept the nuclear existing or not. As you know, some states holding/ possessing the nuclear weapons makes some political stabilities but I don’t think so because of the unexpected happening. That will be some kind of a trigger of nuclear war. That is most terrible situation. Hiroshima and Nagasaki cases were part of the war activities. But apart from the war or political issue, you know, the A-bomb would be detonated or exploded, that is the most horrible things. That is why, not talking about nuclear deterrence but denying atomic bomb is much important for me. This is my idea. That is why A-bomb victims or survivors are very much keen to abolish, absolutely complete abolishment is necessary. That is a very basic thought. As far as I have.
Shimasaki-san:
Just one other thing. Going back a bit – Do you know why people left babies and children with their dead mothers after the A-bomb detonated?
[1:12:02]
Morikawa-san:
Ok, at that time it was hellish but the baby was still alive. So, my father Hiroshi and his colleagues thought that this baby would be terminated soon therefore she must be returned to a lady seemed to be her mother who already died on the road. This was the last benevolence done by them.
My father left his personal diary since 1932 up until his death with 20 volumes.
I have read it and found his description on this baby that Hiroshi left there praying for the baby’s long life and the warmth of the baby’s head and its cute eyes continuously tortured his heart.
Shimasaki-san:
Oh, so the child was actually injured badly as well, and close to death?
Morikawa-san:
In my father’s diary there is a description that when Hiroshi escaped from the burning building he saw a baby whose skin was completely peeled exposing reddish fresh.
The other record still remained. Couple of days after the A-bombing the people who passed by the broadcasting station, they saw the lady who has holding the baby. There are 9 pictures witnessed of this scenery. So those people have no idea why the baby was holding in the arms of mothers, but actually the mother and baby were different places. My father and his colleagues put this baby back to the mother’s arms.
Shimasaki-san:
Genetic effects are also mentioned as a concern. What is your point of view on that?
Morikawa-san:
Ny current concern is that the influence of the radiation passed on to inherit to the generation of my children and grandchildren.
For my prostate cancer, I hope it is not so critical for me and nothing is happed in our future.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes.
Morikawa-san:
September last year I was told from my doctor that the prostate cancer was found to me and no one identified the cause of my cancer. Actually, I have encountered the black rain and the fallout caused by A-bomb. Finally the doctor found my prostate cancer. I am much interesting in the causality of my case. Starting from black rain, ending by the prostate cancer. This is a continuous story.
Shimasaki-san:
Had you suffered other, what could be termed ‘radiation illnesses’ prior to this?
Morikawa-san:
Right, this is my case, but my concern is to transfer of the cancer from me to my three daughters and six grandkids. That is my big concern.
Shimasaki-san:
Your biggest concern. But all of them are born healthy, and didn’t?
Morikawa-san:
So far so good.
Shimasaki-san:
So far so good. Ok. And also, when did you learn about the impacts of radiation?
Morikawa-san:
The Hiroshima people knows as a common sense.
Shimasaki-san:
When did he learn exactly what it was?
Morikawa-san:
No one tells the cause and effect, no one tells the analysis of those figures, that data.
[1:19:10]
Generally speaking, I am very much interested in chemical and mechanics. So that gradually I have studied those kind of things. I used to read the book.
Shimasaki-san:
Ok, and that is how you found out about [radiation].
Morikawa-san:
Reading and writing, plenty of the books.
Shimasaki-san:
Who else has access to your medical records? … These booklets that they are given, who funded that? And who has access to it? …Who provides them with the money to get free medical assistance?
[1:20:33].
Morikawa-san:
Subsidised.
Shimasaki-san:
By Japanese government, or who?
Morikawa-san:
Yes, Japanese government.
Shimasaki-san:
So, since it is subsided by them, do they also have access to all your files?
Morikawa-san:
Yes, as far as uh…
Shimasaki-san:
And, is it a part of a medical study at all?
Morikawa-san:
Good point. Very good point. We doubt, we guess it goes to the United Nations, uh United States. ABCC (Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission). Do you know what ABCC does?
Shimasaki-san:
Yes.
Morikawa-san:
The special research organisation.
Shimasaki-san:
Organisation. Yes.
Morikawa-san:
They are very much keen to note everything.
Shimasaki-san:
To get one of these [medical booklets for subsidy] do you have to sign any type of waiver in your application? What do you need to do to get one?
Translator:
So he does sign for it, not necessarily a waiver for his records but in order for him to apply for them he does have to get his medical records and let them see as proof. [interviewer: ok].
Morikawa-san:
And when I applied, A-bomb victims note, or health note I attached the certificate of the medical treatment issued by the doctor, so my officials, Hiroshima city office issue based on that application and certificate. They issued this note. And uh, regarding to the money, the cost of the inspection or check-ups, health check-ups- they are free, every six months, no need to pay any cents. And treatment the holders of this blue note have to pay the money for treatment injection, pill, everything.
Shimasaki-san:
Ok, yes.
Morikawa-san:
But once the people, [clarifies] the victims office issued the A-bomb the A-bomb victims with this [Interviewer says: “the pink one” to clarify what is being shown] [1:24:06] everything is free.
Shimasaki-san:
Ok, so there is different compensation depending on your circumstances.
Morikawa-san:
Yeah. My treatment, currently, is an injection here to abdomen 60,000 yen- free of charge.
Shimasaki-san:
Wow.
Morikawa-san:
Every 12 weeks-time I have to go to the doctor.
Shimasaki-san:
What is your opinion on the compensation that you have been given?
Translator:
He feels that the Japanese government has responsibilities to the WWⅡ. So, he does feel that the government is responsible, you know, the government back then. So in a way this is the money that is being paid to him by what the government did and which part they took even though that is not what it is called- it is not called compensation. The government does not say it is compensation…
Shimasaki-san:
If they don’t call it compensation or reparation, what terms do they use to describe what they are giving Hibakusha?
Translator:
This would just be like a subsidy or support for insurance. It is just part of his national insurance and as he said, in the end, but now this is being paid out of the tax-payers money. Even though it is the government’s policy, it is not like they are paying for them. Necessarily, as feeling responsible. There is not agreement of responsibility between the Hibakusha and the government.
[1:26:58].
Shimasaki-san:
So what has the government done for them? What acknowledgement have they given Hibakusha?
Morikawa-san:
So, there is a law called the ‘victims relief law’ the ‘A-bomb victims relief law’ and as you know, during WWⅡ, 80 to 90 percent of the Japanese cities were destroyed. Um, but this law in a way recognises the Hibakusha as separate from those victims because of this law only given to the Hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Shimasaki-san:
But they haven’t taken any type of, what would you call it, acknowledgement for what they went through. The government hasn’t taken responsibility in any way.
Morikawa-san:
Yes, so it is not with the showing of any kind of apologies or taking responsibility on their part but in the name of putting this law into effect, in a way they are through this compensation or subsidies but they haven’t recognised officially that they had any responsibility about the dropping of the A-bomb.
LATER IN THE INTERVIEW:
Morikawa-san:
We have four different kinds of Hibakusha. Probably you understand: the first one is direct Hibakusha- people who were exposed directly, those entering into the city Hibakusha.
As you know the government has separated people into four categories and the last one with the black rain, you are lucky if you get one of these [medical books] because the government have drawn a line and said if you are in this line you can have one of these because you know, they think it’s the area that the black rain fell. But the truth is, the black rain fell outside of that line as well. So, there were many people who were affected by the black rain who cannot apply to get this book.
I think this is a situation of unfairness, but the government is, had to decide some rule, set up some kind of rule or regulations.
Shimasaki-san:
How do you think we could work towards achieving a nuclear weapons-free world that you have mentioned?
Morikawa-san:
That is the dilemma for me. The Hibakusha has been speaking out against nuclear weapons for 73 [pause] 74 years almost. Still there are about 15,000 nuclear warheads in the world. So after all these years it almost feels as if there is not set, or a possible equation in order for us to reach that zero number because we know from history that only one bomb killed over 300,000 people and we still have 150,000.
Shimasaki-san:
What do you think might change? Or lead to change?
Morikawa-san:
What I have done in United Nations. I was invited to the very special event of the first committee of United Nations, August 20th, 2016. There I made my speeches why we need complete abolitions from the planet. So, this is my first and last occasions to make my speech in United Nations. Anyway, the currently, the general meetings, now, adapted the nuclear ban treaties. [Getting what he wants to say translated from here]. So, this is the occasion where I shared with them that after 73 years we still have 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world and having any nuclear weapons it would cause us to have a nuclear winter which would cause, not just human beings, but any living thing to cease to exist [speaks slower for emphasis] on this Earth.
Shimasaki-san:
Yeah. Does you have any final remarks regarding his experiences of the A-bomb before I turn off my recorders?
Morikawa-san:
The people who begin the war are the politicians, not soldiers, and the people who causes these wars are politicians. And so in order to face these issues we need to move politics and have a say in our politics. And that I way I agree with the way ICAN is doing their work because they try to lobby within the politics to move and change the politics in the world. And there is a word that I like. You know people say ‘move the mountains’ but here which mountain are we talking about? We can start with Hiroshima city, prefectural Hiroshima, then the Japanese government, then the United Nations. And I myself have gone all the way, straight to the United Nations and spoke there [he laughs]. And it is my belief that you know, having that international law for nuclear abolishment is the only way for a nuclear-free world, and to move the United Nations and to have that law set in place.
Shimasaki-san:
Perfect. Thank you very much for that.
*Listens to the rest of his speech. Shimasaki-san turns the audio recorder on again after asking him when relevant comments arise.
Interview part 2:
A further 7 minutes 47 of recording.
[0:55].
(Translated for this part of interview).
Morikawa-san:
I am planning to dedicate the rest of my life to this, speaking out for peace. He is going to Costa Rica next month, as I said, so it will take 12 hours and 45 minutes to get to Atlantic and from there it will take 4 hours and 8 minutes to get to Costa Rica. Long way to go.
Shimasaki-san:
Definitely. How did you get to the point where you have been talking in the United Nations about this?
Morikawa-san:
There was a recruitment by Peace Boat, Peace Boat organisation looking for participants. Particularly Hibakusha or A-bomb victims because the previously, the project itself has started 2008, that’s a time you know, hundred of Hibakusha or A-bomb victims participated with the project. Plenty.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes.
Morikawa-san:
They enjoy the voyage in a boat. But currently, the scratching and gathering only 5 persons is very difficult. My voyage, my travel was 2016, 2016, right?
Shimasaki-san:
Oh ok, 2016, Yes.
Morikawa-san:
At that time, you know only the 5 Hibakusha applied.
Shimasaki-san:
So, it shows the difference in time?
Morikawa-san:
…Because currently 140,000… because, you know the A-bomb victims, every year they have become older, that is why, you know, the death, rate of death accelerated.
Shimasaki-san:
Yes. So, it continues to rise.
Interview part 3:
Interviewer:
Can you please explain the social discrimination?
Morikawa-san:
This is my father’s cousin who lost his eye through the A-bomb. And I went to go see him when he was in a Red Cross Hospital before he passed, when I went to visit, he told me that living through social discrimination was even more difficult than dying. So, he was late in getting married and they were worried about having children that may be disabled. In all of the ways that the neighbours saw him and viewed then in a strange way, all of the social discrimination that he faced was extremely difficult and that was for me, the last word that he left.