Granddaughter of Hiroshima survivor shares her family's story

Photo: Pauline Tete/WCC

Erin Tsutsui is a 16-year-old student at Henry M Gunn High School in California. She visited the World Council of Churches on 5 August with a group from the League of Creative Minds. She shared her grandfather's story of surviving the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

You've been growing up listening to your grandfather's stories. Could you tell me a little more?

Tsutsui: My grandfather was born and raised in Hiroshima. He was four-and-a-half years old when he became a survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. He tells me that in the morning, he was playing outside behind a large tree when the bomb hit. Everything around him blew up, and he got glass shards stuck in his hand, which he pulled out. Blood came out of his hand, but his life was saved because he wasn't actually that far from the epicenter. He wasn't close enough to die instantly, so it is a miracle that he survived. His family also happened to be safe; his mom and siblings were inside the house or nearby. His dad was actually very close to the epicenter but was underground, so he was also able to survive.

However, I believe maybe a year later, his brother died. I think it was a mixture of radiation sickness, food poisoning, starvation, or something like that. That is what happens in wartime.

My grandfather struggled with radiation sickness for a very long time, so he did not attend most of elementary school. He tells me stories about how his teacher told him he should study for a test, and he told his teacher, "I think I'm going to die anyways." The teacher was very shocked and started crying. His mother always told him that, especially because she was so affected by one of his brothers dying, she said she would, no matter what, make sure that he lives.

He eventually became a medical student and an oral surgeon. He met my grandma, had my mom, and then my mom moved to the US. I was born in the US in Michigan before moving to California. I am Japanese American and have never lived in Japan, but my favorite memories are from visiting my grandpa in Japan. I visited him this year. I think he is now 85 and lives alone, but I think he is really excited about whatever he sees. He is amazing to talk to, and he is open to telling me his stories. Actually, he didn't talk about his experience too much with my mom while she was growing up. My mom told me that only when I was a little kid and very curious did I ask all these questions, and that is when he started opening up. So I am glad that I was able to be part of why he is able to talk about his experience.

How is it for you to be Japanese-American given the history between the two countries?

Tsutsui: It is very interesting and complicated, but I really want to pursue something within US-Japan relations in the future. I think that friendship is super important. Obviously, during the war they were enemies, but now I would love to see how the two countries that I call home can be fast-paced and connected. Also, my grandfather doesn't have any hate towards the US. He actually really likes the United States, which is just fun.

Does he remember the time when the bomb was dropped, or is it something that he was told?

Tsutsui: I think he does remember because he wasn't exactly right next to his family. He just remembers himself being behind this tree and afterwards. I think all the houses except one were completely burned down. So everyone from the neighborhood went to that one house, and he tells me, "All I could think about was when my next meal would be," something like that. I think because it is such a scar, it is seared into his memory, even when he is asleep.

What motivates you to tell this story today?

Tsutsui: I have been growing up from a young age hearing all of this, and it has motivated me. I think because I know that nuclear warfare is in my bloodline, right? It is in my family, the impact of nuclear weapons. So I want to do anything I can to prevent that from ever happening and to learn from what my grandpa had to go through so that we never have to experience another nuclear weapon.

LINKS

Lanterns for Peace: from Hiroshima to the World: https://paxchristi.net/lanterns-for-peace-from-hiroshima-to-the-world/

Learn more about the WCC work on arms control and disarmament:
www.oikoumene.org/what-we-do/arms-control-and-disarmament