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| SUGIYAMA Hideo（SUGIYAMA Hideo） |
| Gender |
Male |
Age at time of bombing |
22 |
| Recorded on |
2004. |
Age at time of recording |
81 |
| Location at time of bombing |
Hiroshima(Direct exposure Distance from the bombing hypocenter:1.2km) |
| Location when exposed to the bombing |
Moto-machi, Hiroshima City [Current Naka-ku, Hiroshima City] |
| Status at time of bombing |
Armed Forces member or military personnel |
| Occupational status at time of bombing |
230th Division Headquarters (27692nd Sobu Unit), 59th Troop, 15th Ground Defense Force, Second Army Command |
| Hall site |
Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims |
Dubbed in English/
With English subtitles |
Dubbed in English |
Hideo Sugiyama was 22 years old when he became an atomic bomb victim in Motomachi located 1.2km from the hypocenter. He was pinned under the military headquarters building at Hiroshima Castle, and beginning the next day, he participated in rescue operations for disaster victims near the hypocenter. Subsequently, he put great efforts into peace education as a school teacher while suffering from after-effects.
【Before the A-bombing,Entering Hiroshima--】
At that time, I was working in the artillery section of a military unit in Okayama. Since American tanks would land, my job was figuring out how to make the ignition mechanism of a conical land mine. All of the Munitions Department apprentice officers of the Chugoku Regional Military District were ordered to gather, and we departed Okayama for Hiroshima on the evening of Aug 5th. Our unit arrived in Hiroshima at 8 am on the 6th. So fifteen minutes after we arrived at 8 am, we were hit. It is just as though we went there in order to be hit.
I was appointed as a technology section apprentice officer. In this division, there were no technology-related officers at that time. Our location was inside Hiroshima Castle, inside the building of that military district weapons section. It was in Motomachi. I didn't have the leeway to look around, so just before and just after we were hit, I was surprised to find that everything was entirely different. It was a really fine castle, but in an instant, it completely disappeared and was reduced to a very horrible sight. A big pine tree about this thick had been also torn up by the roots and felled. I had worked at a military-related company, so I know just how as different as night and day were American weapons and Japanese weapons, so great that there was absolutely no way for us to compete. While feeling that we had to do what we could with what we had, although I didn't say that we would lose the war, I did believe that we were totally beaten by the American weapons.
【The Moment of the A-bombing】
In my room, there was a row of about five conical land mines depth charges. These were for use in attacks, but though I don't remember what instant in time it was, they exploded with a huge bang. I looked around and found that all the barracks and other buildings had been blown away. There was a flash of light like when magnesium is ignited. I was immediately blown off my feet and pinned under the building. At the time, I was not fully conscious though I was able to escape. My colleagues had been pinned down under the beams and most of them had been crushed to death. Though I wanted to rescue them, I was not able to lift the heavy poles.
Eventually a fire broke out and it became a sea of fire. And I just said, ""I'm sorry."" and ran away from there. Just when I got out of Hiroshima Castle, I heard voices crying for help, and then I saw people drenched in blood. They were in really pitiful shape, in a condition that cannot be described in words. When I passed over the Sanyo Main Line railway bridge, black rain began to fall. So I took shelter from the rain under that bridge. I didn't get wet much. And thanks to that bridge, I was very lucky.
【Taking Refuge After the Bombing】
From the castle, I passed by the Hiroshima Postal Services Agency Hospital in Hakushima. I finally arrived at the Kyobashi River. And I looked for water there, not to drink, but to stave off the heat. But the west bank of the river was deep. I tried to make it to the shallows, and fortunately, I was allowed to board an Army engineer corps boat, making it possible for me to cross over the river. On the following day, I led that unit to the spot where I had been hit by the bomb. My colleagues were reduced to skeletons. I felt very sorry for them, saluted them, and returned to the corps.
【Post Bomb Symptoms】
About a week later, symptoms began to appear. To begin with, I lost a lot of weight. In a single month's time, I lost all of 15kg. As a result, I became a bit anemic. Gradually, various information was received by the army, and they received various points to note about the atomic bomb concerning health. Therefore I kept going without pushing myself too hard. After the war, during morning roll call, there was a soldier's imperial mandate recitation beginning with ""As one soldier."" I don't remember saying anything after that and amnesia symptoms developed. Such symptoms appeared and I was finally unable to stay on my feet. I was unable to sit. I had to just lie down listlessly. I got symptoms of weariness and exhaustion to this extent.
Before long, around the 20th, hair began to stick to my pillow in huge swaths. Almost all of it came out. And on September 5th, a military doctor got worried, so he gave me a shot of body fat. As much blood as a cup of tea would spurt out from my lower front teeth. The color was not red. And the odor was the same as the smell when you open the lid of a casket.
【Teacher’s Life After Suffering the Bomb】
From 1947 through 1962, I served as a school teacher, working all that time on site. I did not receive any cruel discrimination. The entire organization supported me. Concerning the peace movement, they said, ""Since you had that sort of experience, no matter what happens, the general headquarters will take full responsibility for you."" The students took ""Baku"" from the word ""Genbaku"" for ""Atomic bomb"" and nicknamed me, ""Baku-san."" Every morning for five minutes, I talked about my experiences.
【Concern About Difficulties of Afterffects】
What I worry about most is cancer. Every year I get examined by doctors for prevention of all sorts of cancer, including intestinal, stomach, liver, lung and recently kidney and bladder cancer. So since I take positive action in advance, I have some benign tumors, but since one never knows when they might develop into malignant ones, I am constantly warned by my doctors.
【Worldwide Nuclear Abolition】
I think nuclear weapons cannot be allowed to exist. They are the way toward human despair. I always say, ""I will definitely try to put a stop to it."" And I get praise and applause from everybody. The young people of today tell me that they have learned from me the horror and fear of atomic bombs for the first time.
【Cruelty of the Atomic Bomb】
The greatest problem is radiation. Huge air raids were experienced in Hamamatsu as well, and people were also killed by heat waves and blast. The most unique effect though is radiation.
【Anger Toward the Doropping of the Atomic Bomb】
I think neither the American nor Japanese governments have any guilty conscience about the atomic bombs. So I just want them to take a look at the actual situation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the bombing the Japanese government simply responds that America's response is entirely right. Even though they feel this way, I cannot agree with the government. There is too little evaluation of the damage caused by the A-bomb and if the chance arises, a strong consciousness toward using it exists. As long as I am alive, I will never forgive this to happen.
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*Many more memoirs can be viewed at both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Halls.
*These contents are updated periodically.
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