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| NAKAYA Masaji（NAKAYA Masaji） |
| Gender |
Male |
Age at time of bombing |
29 |
| Recorded on |
2004. |
Age at time of recording |
89 |
| Location at time of bombing |
Hiroshima(Direct exposure Distance from the bombing hypocenter:1.0km) |
| Location when exposed to the bombing |
Fukuya Department Store, Chugoku Regional War Administrative Bureau (Ebisu-cho, Hiroshima City [Current Ebisu-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City]) |
| Status at time of bombing |
Civil servant |
| Occupational status at time of bombing |
Munition MinistryChugoku Regional War Administrative Bureau |
| Hall site |
Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims |
Dubbed in English/
With English subtitles |
Dubbed in English |
Masaji Nakaya was in Hatchobori, 1km from the epicenter when he caught the bomb blast with his back as soon as he arrived at army administration. He was 29.While rescuing the severely injured, he and his supervisor took refuge at Shukkeien. He suffered aftereffects after his return home.
【before the bomb, coming to Hiroshima.】
Okinawa was occupied. Before the war reached mainland, the army, navy and air force joined and an external bureau of the Ministry of Supply was set up to supply air armament. That's where we were.We were transferred to the Chugoku Ministry of Supply Administration Bureau in mid-July. We were told to go immediately, but transportation was poor. We arrived on August 4th.When we got down onto the platform, we saw a large group of young school girls.I later found out that they were on their way home after evacuating buildings. I still remember how happy they looked to be finally going home.
【Hiroshima Station, before the bomb】
It was the satisfaction of having finished labor service and the happiness of seeing their parents.
I kept looking at them, wondering if young people are really such happy people. I guess they're happy, I thought. I remember well.Then from what I heard later, building evacuation meant tearing down buildings and thinning out areas most likely to be attacked.The time was 8:15. Those kids must have been on their way or even if they were working, nobody knew where. I don't think any of them were left. It was more than tragic.
【work and how things were in Hiroshima】
To put it simply, we were working under the bureau of air armament supply and our job was to oversee aircraft manufacturing. However, we weren't working. We weren't doing a thing.To be honest, I don't know anything about Hiroshima. I requested the transfer because it was close to my hometown in Yamaguchi. I didn't know east from west.I later heard from a friend that we had been staying in a lodging district where the navy was occupying the inns. Hatchobori.The address was where Fukuya Department Store is now. There was a type of inn, but I've forgotten the name. There were a number of inns.
【moment of the explosion】
That morning, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was bright, sunny and hot. I walked to work and took off my jacket as soon as I got there, to cool off, of course. At around 8:15, I don't remember hearing anything, but I saw a bluish white flash from both windows, like a magnesium flash. I thought, ""That's strange,"" and immediately was blasted from behind and fell over. I don't recall how much time had passed, perhaps a few minutes, but I had fainted.When I came to, the desks and bookcases were all on their sides and covered in dust. It was a mess in there so I went out to the hall, only to find that the ceiling had fallen.The moment I started to walk over that, I heard a woman scream. I looked in surprise and found that she had been trapped underneath. With all my might, I lifted the ceiling material and she came out.She was cut badly and bleeding. I couldn't give her first aid, so I told her to find refuge, since she was a local. Then I left her.
At the front door, I ran into a commander who had come down from the 3rd floor. Blood was seeping through the handkerchief he was using to support one of his eyes.Shocked, I told him that I would lead him. When we got outside, the big street in front of Fukuya was filled with people.Their faces were burnt, their skin was dangling off their hands and their eyes were bulging. The only thing we could do was follow the crowd. We ended up at Shukkeien.It used to be called the Asano Gardens. Anyway, I don't know how long we walked, but we got there.All I remember is that houses were crushed and people who were still alive were asking for help, with all of their might.But there was nothing I could do. The trees which had once lined the streets, well half of them were dead. It was a very strange feeling, going into Shukkeien.And then later I learned that it was from radiation.Fire hadn't broken out yet, but it was smoldering. The houses we passed while escaping, they were crushed and smoldering.We took cover at the side of the pond. By then, we could see fires burning. While we were there, it started to rain, black rain. Personally, I don't remember a large amount of that rain.What I do remember the most is a blast of wind and then looking up to see a number of roof panels burning bright red, flying in our direction. To the gardens.
【scene immediately after the bomb】
I especially remember the hot asphalt. I was wearing leather shoes so I somehow made it along, but on the way, wherever there was a water tank, were dead bodies. Everywhere. Dead, burnt bodies.When I finally returned to my workplace near Fukuya, the outside of the building was still standing but it was too hot to get in.
【injuries from the bomb】
My back was stabbed by small pieces of glass from the blast, but they're gone now. Just rough. By the time I was in Miyajima on my way home after settling business, it was mostly gone.On the 10th, those of us who were still alive were told to assemble at Hiroshima Station.I was lucky because before that, my commander and I had gone to Kanawajima to receive treatment at the Akatsuki headquarters and hadn't been outside at all.
【anxieties about aftereffects】
I had heard that the atom bomb disease strikes 10 years after. Then in February 1955, I suddenly lost energy and felt very weak. I felt something was wrong.I had a medical and my white blood cell count was 600. I was told that was bad, but I didn't know anything about the A-bomb.I was told that with a white blood cell count of 600, I wouldn't last long. The doctor who examined me gave me treatment right away and in 3 months I recovered.Later during a routine check-up I was told I had pulmonary TB. I immediately went to the hospital, received treatment for 6 months and recovered.My life at the time had hit rock bottom. Supporting 5 family members, wondering how I would stay alive, losing white blood cell and now TB.
When I thought of the future, I questioned my illnesses, thinking they weren't normal but caused by radiation. But I had a family to support. I couldn't give up.At the time, the guys who developed spots on their skin and lost hair… there were many of them… most of them died.I got scared and heard that moxa treatment was good, so I did that while settling business. I also heard that alcohol was good, so I drank a lot. Anyway, by October, I was able to finish my work.
【present health】
I have enlarged prostate cancer. Being the age that I am, I'm lucky because nowadays there is an advanced hormone injection treatment so the tumor is kept at bay for now.
【the victims of war are the average citizens】
War is just bad. It must not exist. Because as you know, when war begins, the ones who are victimized the most are the citizens. Ordinary people.On March 10th, the day of the Great Tokyo Air Raids, fire bombs were scattered across the city and the people within it, burned to death 10s of thousands. I was there.I was in Kameari, on my way to Kasumigaseki. I saw countless numbers of people, burnt to death in the lower part of town. The attack was not on war potential.The attack was on the fighting spirit and 10s of thousands of people had to burn to death. They had nothing to do with the war. They were ordinary people.All of them. And they were killed. I would never wish for war. Armament is no different from throwing money into a ditch.Those young school girls. I imagine they all burned or were killed in one way or another. They are always in my heart.Such precious lives, taken in an instant. Fire bombs are localized. The A-bomb leaves residual radiation. People have to suffer a lifetime from it. War must not exist. Ever.
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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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