Doerr 1

A Rain of Ruin: The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima An Interview with Mr. Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa

by Leili Doerr Mr. Alex Haight February 12, 2007 Doerr 2

Table of Contents

Release Form 2

Statement of Purpose 3

Biography 4

Historical Contextualization 6

Interview Trmiscription 25

Interview Analysis 81

Appendix 1 90

Appendix 2 91

Appendix 3 92

Appendix 4 93

Appendix 5 94

Appendix 6 95

Appendix 7 96

Appendix 8 97

Appendix 9 98

Appendix 10 99

Appendix 11 100

Appendix 12 101

Appendix 13 102

Appendix 14 103

Time Indexing/Recording Log Ill

Works Consulted 113 Doerr 3

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this oral history is to achieve a better understanding ofthe atomic

bombing of Hiroshima, and the pacific theatre ofthe Second World War, through an

interview with Mr. Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa. The project aims to give a more valuable

and intimate perspective of these events thmi can be acquired anywhere else. The Second

World War still remains the most 'Sv odd-shaping" event ofthe 20 century and a thorough understanding ofit is a fundmnental part of any study ofthe United States. Doerr 4

Biography

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Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa was bom in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 25, 1930.

Bom to Japanese natives, he was the youngest of three sons. Like most Japanese parents in Hawaii, Mr. Tomosawa's parents believed that their three sons must to go to Japan in order to experience a firsthand education about the Japanese culture. Therefore, in April

1941, at the age of eleven, Mr. Tomosawa and his mother lefl: for Hiroshima.

As World War II raged on, conditions grew worse in Japan, and everything became rationed as the Japanese found themselves engaged in a war with the United

States. Mr. Tomosawa's school was closed down and all students were assigned jobs to help in the war effort. On the moming of August 6, 1945, Mr. Tomosawa was heading to work when he witnessed two American B-29 bombers appear overhead. Looking into the sky, Mr. Tomosawa saw a "bomb reflecting in the sunlight," (Tomosawa 36). He was a witness to the first atomic bombing in history.

Following the end ofthe war, Mr. Tomosawa, being a U.S. citizen, applied to retum to Hawaii. Nevertheless, it took almost three years to approve his application, and Doerr 5

in 1948 he was finally able to retum mid be reunited with his entire fmnily. Soon after, in

1951-54, Mr. Tomosawa was drafted in the Koremi War as a U.S. soldier. He was forced to face the atrocities of war once more. After returning from the war, Mr. Tomosawa was

able to finish his schooling, and graduated from college in 1964, in California.

In 1982, Mr. Tomosawa was invited by Senator Kennedy to attend a Sub-

Committee Interim concerning the topic of "nuclem freeze ." Mr. Tomosawa, along with

several other survivors, testified his experience for the first time ever. Following the

meeting, he was able to open up, and speak of his involvement in the bombing at

universities, high schools, elementary schools, churches, city orgmiizations, televisions

stations, radio broadcasts, and newspaper interviews. Mr. Tomosawa understands that the

events of Hiroshima have changed him forever and he vows that he must work for peace throughout his life. Mr. Tomosawa held the position ofthe President ofthe Committee of

Atomic Bomb Survivors in the USA from 1994-2004. His role as President consisted of

addressing problems ofthe survivors in the United States, doing "whatever possible,"

whether they needed financial help, medical or even psychological help (Tomosawa 61).

Now at the age of 76, Mr. Tomosawa has been married for 48 yems, and currently

lives in Whittier, California. He is a retired eye doctor, a father, and a grandfather. He

continues to remain involved through his role as a delegate for the North America Atomic

Bomb Survivors Bomb Association. His hobbies consist of traveling, reading, and

drawing. Mr. Tomosawa continues to work for peace by spreading the word that what

happened to his friends and family in Japan must never happen again.

^ The "nuclear freeze" was a proposed agreement between the world's nuclear powers, primarily the United States and the Soviet Union, to freeze all production of new nuclear arms and to leave levels of nuclear armament where they currently were. Doerr 6

The Pacific Theatre of World Wm II

Historimis such as John Toland choose to take the radical view on the Japanese

attack of Pearl Harbor. Toland, similar to other historians, believes that "Roosevelt and a

small group of advisors—including Stimson, Knox, and Marshall—had, by December 4,

unambiguous information indicating that Japanese carriers were headed eastward toward

Hawaii," but refused to pass on the important information to Navy commmiders Admiral

Kimmel mid General Short (Spector 97). The purpose of withholding the information

may have been to produce an excuse for the United States to enter World Wm. Popular

culture considered the attack on Peml Harbor an atrocity in American history.

Nonetheless, atrocities are not unusual due to the countless that have taken place throughout history. For example, Genghis Khan, perceived by many nations as "the

ruthless and bloodthirsty conqueror," is joined by General Vicente Rilles Lukban, the

Philipino general who commanded the Balangiga Massacre during the Philipine-

American War, as men who committed unfathomable atrocities throughout history. In

fact, mmiy historians such as Eric Hobsbawm, label the period between 1914-1981 as the

"Age of Extremes," due to events that occurred during the First mid Second World War,

as well as the Cold Wm. The events that classify this age from the Second World War are the firebombing of Tokyo, rape of Nanking, bombing of Dresden, the Holocaust mid

many more. One ofthe most highly debated atrocity of World Wm II is the atomic

bombing of Hiroshima, as well as Nagas^i. The pivotal decision to drop the atomic

bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagas^i incited a ceaseless controversy.

Nevertheless, to better understand the atomic bombing of Hiroshima one must examine the Sino-Japanese relationship, the attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Doerr 7 the war in the Pacific, and the decision to drop the bomb, as well as gain a first-hmid

perspective from someone who was there.

After World Wm I, the Japanese were forced to give back a group of Pacific

islands that they had acquired during the war. The League of Nations, the U.S., the U.K.,

Australia, and the Netherlands, which had territorial interests in Southeast Asia and the

Philippines, condemned the Japanese attacks on China. In response, Japan resigned from the League of Nations in 1931. Historian Dmi van der Vat compares goals ofthe Japmiese to that of past empires such as ancient Rome when he said, "A power on the make begins to expand by 'absorbing' its immediate neighbor (in Japan's case Korea in 1910); to

protect its acquisition, it conquers its neighbor's neighbor (Mmichuria), sets up a buffer

state (Manchukuo), creates another buffer (northern China), and uses that as a base to

move against the next victim (China), and possibly its most deadly rival (the Soviet

Union)" (39). Japanese economic and military interests in Korea and southern Mmichuria

were already clear by the end of World War I, expanding Tokyo's imperial vision. From

1868 to 1930, Japan's population rose by 35 million people. To sustain such a large

population, Japmi became dependent on outside resources which created a large

insecurity. The new territories would relieve the pressure of Japan's expanding

population and industrial growth. In retum, the Asian mainland could provide both much-

needed raw materials mid stations for expmided military and economic endeavors. The

United States perceived these new Japanese ambitions as a potential threat to themselves

and also to European empires. Japan's effort to dominate all of Asia was far from

organized since they were suffering from a lack of leadership to guide them in this new

intemational situation. Doerr 8

On Christmas Day of 1926, Emperor Hirohito's reign officially began. He

believed that a "cure-all for Japan's problems" was a Japanese "expedition" to occupy

and "bring order" to Chinese Manchuria. A war tore through China during the 1920s and

1930s as Japan gained control of Manchuria. As a result, Japan was provided with

extensive iron ore, coal, mid oil resources. Such resources would free Japmi from its

dependence on foreign nations (particularly the United States) for raw materials, and

would ensure its status as a great power. Most Japmiese saw their involvement in

Mmichuria as a logical extension of their natural interests. The hostilities between China

and Japan continued on July 7, 1937 in a demilitarized zone hear Peking, where a

Japanese soldier disappemed during the night. Local fighting between the Chinese and

Japanese ensued, as each side believed itself "the aggrieved party." Sino-Japanese

hostilities began in southern provinces as the Chinese attempted to expel Japanese

military and civilian personnel from Shanghai. The Shanghai campaign expanded rapidly

and disastrously for the Chinese. As the fighting proceeded, Japanese behavior in China

became atrocious. Chinese soldiers attempting to surrender were frequently executed "on

sight." The slaughter following the rape of Nanking in December 1937 proves to be an

infamous example. Approximately 250,000 civilians and POWS were raped and

slaughtered in a murderous ruin. President Frmiklin D. Roosevelt was outraged. His first

response was to give a speech calling on America's friends to "quarantine aggression."

Roosevelt's secondary response was to write to Americmi industrialists and request that they cutoff trade with the Japanese. This trade embargo left the Japanese stranded in their

"home islmids" with no raw materials. Since the end ofthe Anglo-Japanese Allimice in

1922, Japan had felt like a nation "without friends" mid saw that Germany would be Doerr 9

formidable force to be associated with. Therefore, to the further aggravation ofthe United

States in the Pacific, Japan signed the Tripmlite Pact on September 27, 1940, with

Germany and Italy. A New York Times article published on September 28, 1940

confronted Japan's risky move to sign the pact with Germany and Italy. The article

stated, "The signing of a tripartite pact by the representatives of Italy, Japan and Germmiy

in Berlin today was regarded here as another step towmd completing the line-up of totalitarian aggressor States against democracy and as a warning to the United States not to meddle in the affairs of Europe and Asia unless she was prepared to go to war against

all three" (The New York Times). Nonetheless, in response to this alliance and these

Japanese actions, the United States created mi embargo on scrap metal and gasoline, and

closed the Panmna Cmial to Japanese shipping. The situation worsened, and in 1941,

Japan moved into northern Indochina. The U.S. responded by freezing Japan's assets in the U.S. mid instituting a complete oil embargo. Oil was Japan's most crucial resource;

her own supplies were very limited, and 80% of Japan's imports were from the U.S. The

Imperial Navy relied entirely on imported bunker oil stocks. These actions by the United

States severely frustrated the Japanese, mid initiated Japanese aggressive behavior.

On November 26, 1941 Secretary Hull presented the Japanese ambassador with the Hull note, which was the final proposal delivered to Japan by the United States before the start of war between the two nations. It is formally called the "Outline of proposed

Basis for Agreement Between The United States and Japan." One of its conditions

demanded the complete withdrawal of all Japanese troops from China mid after a costly

war to establish its interests there, Japmi could not accept this. The strike force which

attacked Pearl Harbor had set sail the day before, Japan time. Doerr 10

"Operation Hawaii," as the attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Hmbor was

first code-named, set sail on November 26, 1941. Two battleships, three cruisers, eleven

destroyers, three submarines, and several tmikers rounded out Admiral Nagumo's flotilla

as they sailed two-thirds ofthe way across the Pacific from the Hiroshima Bay. The

attack on Pearl Harbor was the conception and responsibility of Admiral Yammnoto

Isoroku. Since 1919, America had maintained a Pacific fleet at Peml Harbor and in early

1941 Roosevelt ordered the fleet to remain at Pearl to serve as a restriction to Japanese

aggression on the western border ofthe Pacific Ocemi. Japanese naval planners had long talked of a surprise attack against the U.S. fleet at Peml, and in the late spring of 1940,

after observing a demonstration of Japan's new aerial oxygen-driven torpedo, which left

no "tell-tale stream of bubbles" in the water after being dropped, Yamamoto wondered

whether a torpedo attack against U.S. ships in Pearl was now possible. In December of

1940, he set portions of staff to planning a surprise attack against the Americans at Pearl

Harbor. On December 7, 1941, they reached launch position. A little before 6:00AM,

Naguma launched 351 aircrafts speeding towmd Pearl. The attack of Pearl Harbor was

supposed to be a surprise bombing ofthe United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor in

order to neutralize the Pacific fleet. The first bombs fell on the new Kaneohe naval Air

Station on the eastern coast of Oahu at 7:47 A.M., dropped by a group of aircraft that had

left the main body of Fuchida's force some moments prior for that purpose. Fuchida was to signal his men as to whether surprise had been achieved. He miss communicated with

a group of his bombers, and as a result the planes attacking Peml believed that surprise

had not been attained. Because ofthe confusion, all the pilots attacked their targets at the

same time. The wave of 351 began their attack on the nine American battleships in Pearl Doerr 11

Harbor that moming. In the first wave eight battleships were damaged, four ofthem lost.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Americans were furious. The

Japanese had succeeded in completing a surprise attack on their own base. Gene La

Roque, then an officer abomd the USS MacDonough said, "We were so surprised, amazed! I personally thought that it was the United States Army Air Corps who'd mistakenly dropped their bombs on us, until we saw the red circles on the Japanese planes as they flew over. We thought, this is a dirty trick. Those stinkers, they attacked us by surprise in our own base, they weren't fair, they weren't honest, they didn't do battle with us at sea—^those sneaky Japanese outsmarted us," (Rees 62). Most Americans were convinced that Admiral Kimmel mid General Short were to blame for the attack. They lacked the capability to decipher mid read Japanese diplomatic code as American intelligence analysts were doing in Washington. In a New York Times article published on December 7 1942, in remembrance ofthe attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese

Foreign Minister declared that United States, " 'challenged us; they had the nerve to ask

Japan to break the Axis pact....' In consequence of this 'unreasonable demand,' the

Japanese Foreign Minister asserted, 'the destruction ofthe United States but be cmried out in a most decisive manner,'" (The New York Times). The Japmiese attack on Pearl

Harbor therefore marked the entrmice ofthe United States into World War II, and as the newspaper article also stated, it confirmed the idea that" the period of defense is past, and that we [the United States] are now on the offensive," (The New York Times).

Therefore, the United States entered the most world-shaping war in history.

Once the United States entered the war, it found itself defending the islands which

Japan was tmgeting in its military tactic of "island hopping." In May of 1942, the United Doerr 12

States Pacific Fleet only had one base besides Pearl Harbor of any significmice, Midway.

The Japmiese realized this and aimed their next offensive at the tiny island. The Battle of

Midway was a decisive American victory and in many ways the turning point ofthe wm.

Admiral Nimitz, ofthe United States Navy, intercepted intelligence material that the great Admiral Yamamoto was directing an attack against the islands of Midway. That intelligence, combined with false signals generated by the Americans led the Japanese to believe that the USS Hornet and the USS Enterprise were not in the mea; this would prove decisive. Because Vice Admiral Naguma did not believe these cmriers were nearby, he allowed his planes to be caught by surprise on the deck of his own carrier.

Four Japanese carriers were eventually sunk at Midway, and Ymnomoto was forced to abandon the whole Midway operation. As historimi Laurence Rees said, "In Japmi the enormous significance ofthe Midway defeat was not immediately appreciated. In a striking exmnple of how the Japanese High Command structure was flawed mid interwoven with rivalries, it took some time for the imperial Navy even to admit the extent ofthe defeat to their army colleagues," (99). Rees touches upon a significant point of Japmiese culture, which was their difficulty to admit defeat, or even consider surrender. In the history ofthe Empire of Japan, Japan had never surrendered to a foreign army, and so fm it was very unlikely for them to do so now.

After the crucial turning point at Midway, the United States was finally in position to counterattack the Japanese. The Pacific Command decided that a southern force from Australia would have to move north and retake the Philippines and Sumatra, while a group from the west, led by Admiral Nimitz, would have to break the Japanese circle of defensive fortress islands. In February 1945, American marines landed on the Doerr 13 tiny islmid of Iwo Jima, less than 700 miles south of Tokyo. The island was a vital

strategic objective for the Allies because the use of its airstrips would allow bombing

raids against the "home islmids" of Japan. The Japanese response was tenacious and

desperate. Under the commmid of Lieutenant General Tadmnichi Kuribayahi, the

Japanese built tunnels and foxholes. Their fierce defense ofthe island cost the Americans

many lives. By the time it was captured, after a five-week battle, one in three ofthe

marines had been killed or wounded. Paul Montgomery, a member ofthe bomber crew that landed on Iwo Jima weeks after the island had been taken recalls, "We were taxiing

in and I passed right by a graveyard. There were mi indescribable number of mmker

crosses. I couldn't describe to you how affected I was. I had never seen 7000 markers

before. And when I came to realize that they were just kids like myself mid that they

wouldn't be going home...I became traumatized with the price that had been paid for that

island - and the reason they took it was so I could have a runway to land on coming

back," (Rees 114). This battle also signified the relentless character ofthe Japanese army

since the battle lasted longer than expected.

With Iwo Jima cleared, the only islmid left between the Navy and Japmi was

Okinawa. On April 1, 50,000 US troops landed on beaches on the western side ofthe

island. The Americans expected the Japanese to defend the landing ground, but the

marines were unopposed. The Allied fleet left Okinawa and sailed almost untroubled

until the afternoon of April 6. Then, suddenly, out of a clear sky cmne wave upon wave

of kamikazes. "It was a saturation-type thing. I mean there was one kamikaze, and then there were two, and then three, and they'd just keep coming," said Frank Manson, a U.S.

navy communications officer (Rees 121). For the first time kamikaze pilots were Doerr 14

attacking in large groups of over thirty planes at a time. The massed kamikaze attacks off

Okinawa were effective - altogether twenty-four American ships were sunk, 200 were

dmnaged mid it was not until June that the Americans had secured the island. After

experiencing the wm in the Pacific, the United States came to realize that the chances of

Japanese surrender were "slim to none."

In 1942, the United States begmi an effort named the "Manhattan Project" in order to construct an atomic bomb. It was placed under the control ofthe U.S. Army and

overall command was given to mi officer named Leslie Groves. As director ofthe project.

Groves traveled to different research sites to discuss with scientist's about the project. On

a California trip. Groves met physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer told Groves that the Manhattan Project needed a central laboratory as a headquarters, and he began

recruiting other scientists for the project.

The U. S. Army found a place for the central laboratory in north central New

Mexico, at a spot called Los Almnos. In 1942 mid 1943, a small city was built there, with

housing, offices, power and phone lines, and streets. Los Alamos, high in the mountains,

was very remote, which suited the Manhattan Project because everything was being

carried out in secrecy. The United States govemment worried that its enemies in World

War II might learn of any progress and use it to their advantage to help their own efforts to build a bomb. Workers had to be cleared by security officers before joining the

Mmihattan Project. People and places were given code names. Soldiers patrolled the

major sites, and barbed wire surrounded the Los Alamos site. Workers were forbidden to

discuss their work with anyone outside the project. During 1943 and 1944, the Los

Alamos team struggled with a key issue: how to make mi atomic bomb explode. They Doerr 15

came up with two ideas. One ofthe bombs would use the "gun method," in which a

chunk of urmiium would be shot into another chunk to cause a chain reaction. This bomb

was called "Little Boy" because it was the smaller ofthe two. The other bomb, code-

nmned "Fat Mmi," would use the implosion method. This method consisted of a small

mass of plutonium that would be surrounded with ordinmy explosives. When the

explosives were detonated, the blast would squash the plutonium and cause a chain

reaction.

On April 12, 1945, a group of workers tested Little Boy, the bomb that would be

dropped on Hiroshima (See Appendix 7). "It was as near as we could possibly go towards

starting an atomic explosion without actually being blown up, and the results were most

satisfactory. Everything happened as it should," said Otto Frisch, a Mmihattan Project

scientist (Crewe 15). The test proved that when mmed with pure uranium, the Little Boy type of bomb would create mi atomic explosion.

On the same day Little Boy was tested. President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed

rrl

away, and Henry S. Truman became the 33 President ofthe United States, however he

was completely oblivious to the construction ofthe atomic bomb. Therefore, at the

beginning of Roosevelt's term, on April 25, 1945, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson

and General Leslie Groves met with the president in order to brief him on the progress of the atomic bomb. The formation of what became the Interim Committee was proposed. In the first Interim Committee Meeting on May 9, 1945, Secretmy Stimson outlined the

nature mid purpose ofthe committee: "the Committee was established to study and report

on the entire problem of temporary war-time controls and later publicity, and to survey

and make recommendations on post-war resemch, development, mid control, and on Doerr 16

legislation necessary for these purposes," (Truman Library). Through the meetings, the

group of men was able to confront details concerning the purpose ofthe atomic bomb. On

May 31, the Interim Committee came to an agreement "that the most desirable tmget [for the atomic bomb] would be a vital war plant employing a large number of workers and

closely surrounded by workers' houses," (Alperovitz 164). They were also able to narrow

down their list of targets to the following cities: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kokura and Niigata.

Eventually Kyoto was replaced by Nagasaki. The Interim Committee also decided on

June 1 that the bomb would be "used without prior warning," (Truman Library).

On June 18, President Truman convened a meeting of his chief advisors to discuss the military's contingency plans for the invasion of Japan. The invasion was to begin no

earlier than November 1, 1945. President Trummi and his military and civilian advisors

were willing to try to force Japan to give up through their strict enforcement of blockades

and their devastating campaign of conventional bombing. However, the Japanese were

showing no signs of surrender, and the United States govemment believed Americans

would not tolerate more years of wm against Japan. However, a successful test of Fat

Man would determine the fate the United States.

The testing of Fat Man was given the code name "Trinity," and a site was chosen

for the test (See Appendix 9 and 10). The Trinity Site was on a remote area of army land,

200 miles south of Los Alamos, najncd the Jornada delMuerto—^the "journey of death."

The site had already been used by the U.S. Army for weapons training as part ofthe

Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range. By fall of 1944, the Trinity site had a base

camp to provide living quarters for the scientists mid support staff as they worked to

prepare for the test. The test was set for July 16, 1945. One early step in prepming for the Doerr 17

Trinity test was to blow up 100 tons of an explosive material called TNT. The blast

created by the TNT would give the scientist a glimpse at the kind of blast the atomic

bomb might produce. The trial explosion which took place on May 7, 1945 was also

needed to practice the countdown and test instruments for the real test in July. On July

12, the plutonium that would be used for the bomb was t^en to the McDonald ranch

house 2 miles from the Trinity Site. The master bedroom at the house had been transformed into a "clean room," in order to seal out the dust. In this room, the plutonium

core ofthe atomic bomb would be assembled.

At the Trinity Site, meanwhile, a 100-foot steel tower had been built. A small

shelter was installed at the top, where the bomb would be placed. On July 13, first the

explosives and the plutonium core mrived at the Trinity Site, and the bomb was

assembled under the tower. The next moming, July 14 , the assembled bomb was raised to the top ofthe tower, and the detonators—which set off the explosion ofthe

TNT—were attached. The bomb was ready to be tested. At 4:00A.M, on July 16, scientist

and soldiers gathered at three observation points about 5.5 miles from "ground zero," the

spot where the test bomb lay at the top of its steel tower. One ofthe observation points

was also the control center from which key scientist would direct operations, trigger the

bomb, mid watch the explosion. At their observation points, the spectators clustered in

wooden shelters protected by concrete and dirt. Just before 5:10 A.M., the countdown

began. At 5:29 mid 45 seconds, the bomb exploded exposing a blinding light. The light

was so strong that "it bored its way right through you," according to one eyewitness,

(Crewe 20). The flash was followed by a ball of fire that reached 2,000 feet across. The Doerr 18

heat was so intense it could be felt nearly 11 miles away. The force ofthe blast was

equivalent to nearly 20,000 tons of dynamite. "It worked," Oppenheimer said (Crewe 21).

A day after the successful test of Fat Man, President Truman left for the Potsdam

Conference where he would convene with Communist Pmty General Secretary Joseph

Stalin, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill where they would decide how to administer the defeated Nazi Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks

earlier, on May 8. The goals ofthe conference also included the establishment of post­

war order, peace treaty issues, and avoiding the effects of war. However, the significance

ofthe Potsdam Conference was the creation ofthe Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945.

The Potsdam Declaration outlined the terms of surrender for Japan. The declaration said,

"We call upon the govemment of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of

all Japanese armed forces.. ..The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction,"

(Crewe 23).

After receiving the Potsdam Declaration, Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki held an

afternoon press conference on July 28 in which he rejected the declaration and stated, "I

believe the Joint Proclamation by the three countries is nothing but a rehash ofthe Cairo

Declaration . As for the Government, it does not find any important value in it and there

is no other recourse but to ignore [mokusatsu] it entirely and resolutely fight for the

successful conclusion ofthe war," (Ziff 72). The Imperial govemment and its military

2 . . . . The Cairo Declaration was signed at Cairo, Egypt on November 27, 1943 by President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China. The main points of the declaration were the deployment of brutal military force until unconditional surrender of Japan, that Japan should retum all the territories stolen from the Chinese since the beginning of the first World War in 1914, Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China, and that Korea shall become free and independent. Doerr 19

leaders believed they could still find a way to avoid the ultimate dishonor of

surrendering.

The United States therefore chose to follow through with their original plan to use the atomic bomb and after American cryptmialysts had broken a Japanese diplomatic

code that read.

With regmd to unconditional surrender we are unable to consent to it

under any circumstances whatever. Even if the war drags on and it

becomes clear that it will take much more than bloodshed, the whole

country as one mmi will pit itself against the enemy in accordance with the

Imperial Will so long as the enemy demands unconditional surrender.

(McCaffrey 68)

it was clear that Japanese surrender was improbable. Therefore, as stated in a newspaper

article ofthe Christian Science Monitor, the United States "felt justified to end the

fighting in the Pacific in the shortest amount of time," mid therefore believed the bomb

was the most practical choice.

At 7:09 AM, on August 6 1945, a B-29, named Enola Gay, had appemed over

Hiroshima, triggering an air raid alert. Residents took cover in shelters, but at 7:31, after the planes flew off, a long siren signaled the all clem. Believing the situation safe, the

citizens of Hiroshima went about their daily business. However, ten minutes past eight, three B-29s were spotted over Hiroshima. The citizens of Hiroshima were gripped with

fear as the planes passed above. When parachutes opened below the two trailing plans, a

group of soldiers cheered believing the B-29s had been hit and the crews were "bailing

out." However, at 8:15 AM the doors ofthe Enola Gay's bomb bay opened, releasing Doerr 20

Little Boy, a 9,000-pound uranium bomb. Forty-three seconds later, high explosives

inside the bomb fired the uranium bullet initiating the nuclear chain reaction. Bombmdier

Thomas Ferebee's aiming point had been the Aioi Bride, but he missed by 550 to 800

feet and Little Boy detonated above the courtyard ofthe Shima Surgical Hospital. The time was 8:16:02 AM.

A blinding burst was the first sign of a lmge fission reaction. A second later, a

fireball expanded to a diameter of 840 feet, and heat rays up to 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit

radiated outward. Also expanding outward, was a shock wave produced by the

blast—which was later estimated to be equivalent to 12,500 tons of dynamite. In an

instant, tens of thousands of human beings were killed. The closer a person was to the

hypocenter—^the point on the ground directly underneath the bomb when it

exploded—the greater his or her chance of being instantly killed. In some cases, the

incredibly bright flash scorched shadowy images of people who no longer existed into

stone mid pavement (McCaffrey 76). By the end of 1945, 140,000 people had died as a

direct result ofthe bombing. Within the following five yems, another 60,000 would die of

bomb-related causes.

Following the bombing of Hiroshima, President Truman announced to the

Japanese, "If they do not now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the

air the likes of which as never been seen on this earth," (Ziff 79). On August 8, 1945,

leaflets were dropped and warnings were given to Japan by Radio Saipan. The Japanese

govemment still did not react to the Potsdam Declaration. Emperor Hirohito, the

govemment, and the War council were considering four conditions for surrender: the

preservation ofthe kokutai (Imperial institution and national policy), the assumption by Doerr 21 the Imperial Headquarters of responsibility for disarmament and demobilization, and no

occupation mid delegation to the Japanese govemment ofthe punishment of war

criminals.

Therefore the United States continued with their plmi to drop a second bomb. On the moming of August 9, 1945, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Bockscar, carried the nuclear

bomb code-named Fat Man, with Kokura as the primary target and Nagasaki as the

secondmy target. By the time they reached Kokura a half hour later, a cloud covered the

city, prohibiting the visual attack required by orders. After three runs over the city, and

with fuel running low, they headed for their secondary target, Nagasaki. At 11:01, a last

minute break in the clouds over Nagasaki allowed the bombardires to visually sight the target. Fat Man was dropped over the city's industrial valley. According to some

estimates, about 70,000 of Nagas^i's 240,000 residents were killed instmitly, and up to

60,000 were injured.

Following the bombing of Nagasaki, President Trummi spoke to the American

people via radio broadcast. He stated, "The world will note that the first atomic bomb was

dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in the first instance to avoid, in so far as possible, the killing of civilimis," (Truman Library). President

Truman always insisted that his primary consideration had been to save American lives.

Some critics and historians believe that Japan was close to surrender, and that there

would have been relatively low casualty estimates for an invasion. In fact, in the most

recent American operations, at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Japanese had inflicted

horrendous casualties on the U.S. forces in some ofthe most ferocious fighting ofthe

In the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 95% of the people that were killed were workers and civilians. Doerr 22

entire war. Kamikaze missions had multiplied. And Okinawa and Iwo Jima were still

hundreds of miles from Japan's home islmids. It would not have been unreasonable to

expect even more fervent resistmice in defense ofthe Japanese heartland.

Also on August 9 , the Soviet Union began their offensive on Japan in

Mmichuria. The United States had attempted to restrain Soviet Union interference in

Asian territories as long as possible to prevent Soviet influence and control.

Following the dropping ofthe bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet

Union's offensive on Japan, Prime Minister Kmitaro Suzuki urged for acceptance ofthe

Potsdam Declaration and immediate surrender. When Prime Minister Suzuki asked the

emperor to express his wishes he stated,

I have given serious thought to the situation prevailing at home and abroad

and have concluded that continuing the war can only memi destruction for

the nation and prolongation of bloodshed and cruelty in the world. I

cannot hem to see my innocent people suffer any longer. Ending the war is

the only way to restore world peace and to relieve the nation from the

terrible distress with which it is burdened.... (McCaffrey 97)

On August 12, the United States announced that it would accept the Japanese

surrender, making clear in its statement that the emperor could remain in a purely traditional power only. Debate raged within the Japanese govemment over whether to

accept the American terms or fight on. Meanwhile, American leaders were growing

impatient, mid on August 13 conventional air raids resumed on Japmi. Later that day, the

emperor called another meeting of his cabinet and instructed them to accept the Allied terms immediately. Doerr 23

On August 15, 1945, the emperor's broadcast minouncing Japan's surrender was

heard via radio all over Japan. For most of his subjects, it was the first time that they had

ever heard his voice. The emperor explained that "the war situation has developed not

necessarily to Japan's advantage," and that "the enemy has begun to employ a new and

most cruel bomb," (McCaffrey 97). Over the next few weeks, Japmi and the United States

worked out the details ofthe surrender, and on September 2, 1945, the formal surrender

ceremony took place on the deck ofthe U.S.S. Missouri.

The decision to drop the atomic bomb mid the motives behind it have been long

debated. The arguments the United States govemment presented for the necessity ofthe

bomb were ofthe following. President Truman as stated before said that, '"the first

atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base.. .because we wished... .to

avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians,'" (Zinn 310). Truman desired to convey the chosen target ofthe bomb as a military base in order to justify the use ofthe bomb.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey said in an official report: "Hiroshima

and Nagasaki were chosen as targets because of their concentration of activities and

populations," (Truman Library). This statement contradicts President Truman's assertion

and proves the inconsistency between the arguments. Nevertheless, the most

controversial rationalization for the use ofthe bomb was President Truman's estimate that the bomb would "save a quarter of a million young Americans from being killed, and

would save an equal number of Japanese young men from being killed," (Truman

Library). This estimation is what historian Gar Alperovitz refers to as the "American

Myth." Alperovitz, nonetheless, believed that President Truman's estimate was not

realistic and a mainland invasion would not have risked at least a quarter of a million Doerr 24

lives. The decision to drop the atomic bomb proves to remain as one ofthe most

controversial aspects of United States history.

The Pacific Theatre in World War II was, for the Americans, one ofthe most

pivotal points in the nation's history. It catapulted the US into the intemational scene, and

created a new perspective on the experimentation and creation of atomic weapons. The

construction and the dropping ofthe atomic bombs on Hiroshima mid Nagasaki were

precedent for events that followed it mid as historian Stephen E. Ambrose states, "it

inaugurated a new era in the world's history and in the tools of American foreign policy.

No longer—or so it seemed—would the United States have to rely on mass armies, either those of its allies or its own....The Americans immediately began to use the bomb as mi

instrument of diplomacy...." (Alperovitz 221). For example, the nuclear arms race

between the Soviet Union mid the United States for supremacy in nuclear weapons was

caused by the United States's work during the Manhattan project. The Soviet Union knew that they were at a disadvantage and worked furiously to build their own atomic weapons.

The issue of atomic and nuclear weapons still exists today, mid has been a rescent issue in the news. The suspcision of nuclear development in Iran overwhelmed the news in 2003,

proving that the creation of atomic weapons proves to still be an issue today. Overall,

World War II introduced several different types of warfare that have affected our world today. Doerr 25

Interview Trmiscription

Interviewee/Narrator: Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa Interviewer: Leili Doerr Location: Pmnell Park and Community Senior Center, Whittier, CA Date: December 28. 2006

Leili Doerr: This is Leili Doerr and I am interviewing Frmicis Mitsuo Tomosawa as pmt ofthe American Century Oral History Project. This interview took place at 10:30 AM on

December 28, 2006 at the Pamell Park and Community Senior Center. So my first question for you, Mr. Tomosawa, is: what was your childhood like?

Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa: My childhood was in Hawaii, so it was peaceful and it was before World War II started, so I would say.. .mostly uneventful. Naturally we had some sort of discrimination, at that time there was discrimination against Asians...

LD: Right.

FMT: .. .Japanese, Chinese, so forth. But it wasn't as.. .evident as in the United States.

You know the states side. Hawaii had many many Asians, they outnumbered the

Caucasimis. So in that city it wasn't that bad. So I would say... about average. Not bad, not pmlicularly good about it. (Laughs)

LD: I also understand that you moved to Japan from Hawaii when you were young. Why did your parents find it necessary for you to move? Doerr 26

FMT: The reason why is about that time in 1940, or so, from 1930 to 1940, Japanese families in Hawaii, especially, the pments wmited their children to go to Japan mid have a firsthand education about the Japmiese culture, you know. Because our ancestors are from Japmi, you see. Our parents are from Japmi. So that's what they wmited us to know.

And almost all families did that. After you reached the age of about 10, 11 or so, we were sent to Japan; sometimes our parents would come with us too. That's the reason why our pments sent us. We were three brothers, first my eldest brother went to Japan, then myself, and my second brother went to Japan. That's the reason why.

LD: Did you go on your own, or did your parents come along?

FMT: To Japan?

LD: To Japmi.

FMT: No, I went with my mother.

LD: Oh, you did?

FMT: Yes, and my father and my mother decided that at least she should be with us. The plan was that we would be there only about two yems.

LD:Oh... Doerr 27

FMT: Two years of education, and then come back, you see? But, I went; my mother mid

I went to Japan, in 1941, in April, because the Japmiese schools stmled in April. Unlike the United States, United States is September, see it's different. So we went in April,

eight months later the war stmled, so we couldn't come back.

LD: Wow. How did you feel when you were living in Japan since your native country

was engaged in war with Japan?

FMT: It was a shock when the war started. Then as the years progressed, you know, to

me Japan was just like my father country, the United States was my mother country. So to me it seemed -1 felt as though my father and mother were fighting. You know

something in a family. I was sad about it, but I was too young, cmi't do anything about it.

Just have to go along with it.

LD: Too young to actually understand what was going on?

FMT: Yes.

LD: How did you feel about Japanese aggression during the war? Because there was the

rape of Nanking.... Doerr 28

FMT: Again, you see, when you look at these historical events—and this I leamed from

my many many years of after the atomic bombing experience—I feel that you need to

look at it from both sides. From the U.S. point of view, Japan was aggressive. But from the Japanese point of view....(laughs) The Japanese people at that time, mid even now

some ofthem still feel that the United States is the one that pressured Japan, pushed

Japan against the wall, that Japan had no choice but to strike back. See, it's just like

cornering a cat, or rat, or something. They can't do anything, they start attacking, you

see. So that's the way the Japmiese felt. Naturally I was in Japmi, and I didn't hear

anything about the news from the United States, see. It was the taboo; we cmi't have any

radio and so forth. So naturally I would hear only the one side ofit. But after the war, I

hear both sides. So at that time, the only thing that I could say is that I felt sad about both

countries fighting. Why do we have to fight? Why do we have to kill each other? And as the yems went by many many families lost their loved ones too.

LD: Yes.

FMT: Yes.

LD: And being in Japmi, how were you treated by other Japanese for being American?

FMT: I was surprised when the war started that all my classmates, neighbors, knew that

we came from the United States, knew that I was an Americmi citizen; I had a citizenship

in the United States. But despite the fact that they knew about it, they were very kind. Doerr 29

LD: Oh really?

FMT: They realized that our father, my father, was in Hawaii. We were separated—he

was supposed to work mid send us the money to make a living. The war started, we

couldn't receive any monetary support. So my mother had to stml working. So I was

surprised that the neighbors, especially my friends, were very kind. Except, there were the Koremi children. The Korean children - just to give you a short history - Korea was

subjugated by Japan, and so when the war stmled the mmi power and all Japmiese able

bodied would go to the front lines so they didn't have enough people, so Japanese

govemment conscripted Korean young people, young men.

LD: Oh, wow.

FMT: So they were sent to Japan, to work in army factories. So they were discriminated

against and so the children naturally would notice that their pments have been

discriminated. And yet the thing that I even to this day I just can't comprehend why, is that the Japanese children—classmates—did not discriminate against me or mistreat me.

But the Korean children bullied me, see.

LD: Really? Doerr 30

FMT: That's what I don't understand, (both laugh) You know? United States was

fighting Japan. Japan is the one that occupied Korea. And the other one mistreating—and

Japan was mistreating Korean people. So miyone who is a U.S. citizen they should really

like it, right? They should try to protect them, or they should try to protect me. But it was

completely opposite! For every chance they got, they tried to beat me up and so forth.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: And I don't understand it at all. One day I found out from my best friend that they

were waiting for me outside ofthe school gate to beat me up. So we went to our

classroom teacher and he was a very tall gentlemmi and he said, 'Okay, you two wait and

I'm going to be finished pretty soon and I will take both of you home.' So we walked out

ofthe school gate and there were about five or six Korean children, classmates. They

were surprised when... .they thought they were going to beat me up and here comes the teacher, you see (both laugh)- The teacher said something like, 'What are you doing here?

You need to go home.' And that's what happened. So to answer your question, you

know, I wasn't mistreated from the people that I expected to be mistreated, but later on, towards the end ofthe wm, 1944, wm ended 45, and 44 I think myself and my brother for

some reason, we both became sick. So my mother had to report it to our school. During that time, I would say about 7 grade and up, the students were mobilized, to work in

factories, offices, and so forth, you see. So we had to report when we were sick. So we

reported it. Within mi hour or so military police, two ofthem came. Doerr 31

LD: Really?

FMT: Yeah, and we were surprised. How did they know that we were sick?

LD: Yes...

FMT: But apparently we reported it to the school; school immediately reported it to them. Military police, see, that's what I told you. They came mid later on I found out that they knew that we were from Hawaii, from the United States. So they had our nmne on the black list.

LD: Oh, they did?

FMT: They were watching us, see. So as soon as they found out we were reported sick, they thought that maybe we would be doing some spying activity. So they came and looked at us, and made sure we were sick and we were in bed and so forth. And that I was surprised, too.

LD: Wow, so they were keeping a close eye on you.

FMT: Yes.. .From that time on we were very careful. We couldn't do miything that might cause any kind of suspicion. You could be thrown into jail...if worse cmne to Doerr 32

worse. If they decide that you were a spy, they could execute you. It's a surprising thing that happened.

LD: How did you feel when you found out about the bombing of Pearl Hmbor?

FMT: Again, that too, I was surprised that that started the war. At that time, I didn't

know what were the circumstances and so forth. So, gradually I began to know the

circumstances surrounding the attack mid so forth. So at that moment, that day when the

surprise attack happened, my reaction was just, 'Wow, why did this war start? What's

going on here?' And as the years went by I didn't think much about it because we were

so busy, you know. As the yems went by, everything started to become rationed and even

on the ration system, the food was scmce, the clothing was scarce. We had to patch all

our clothes up over and over again, mid we had to be hungry almost every day. And things that you normally eat, we don't have. Like the white rice, fish, was unthinkable, that you could get a fish for dinner. And it became so bad that toward the end ofthe war

period we began to eat, not eat per say, but make it into soup. You know the grass?

LD: Yes...

FMT: The regular long grass.

LD: Yes... Doerr 33

FMT: That's what we used for the soup.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: Or the leaves, or sweet potatoes. So if we were able to get some sweet potatoes,

we were lucky. Bread, occasionally. But rice, and bread, you can't get white, it's all

wheat.. ..In fact I remember eating pieces of dry bean, that you know in Japan they would

boil the beans and get extracts of oil from it, cooking oil, or whatever... All the rest ofit

was dry bean remains, and they would compress it into a big huge disc and they were

using that to feed the cows.

LD: They were?

FMT: Yes.. .And that's what we decided to be rationed too. So, you know we were

eating something that animals were eating.

LD: Wow.

FMT: And I don't know how we got by because at that time, see the war started when I

was eleven, and ended when I was fifteen, and that's the time that you pack

food—especially boys, you get hungry. And we didn't have much to eat. You know if

you compare from now, they say that the average caloric intake of US A is about 2,000. I think we didn't even have 500 calories. So we were always hungry. So, especially the Doerr 34

attack on the USA, I didn't think much about it, I was just surprised that it was the

beginning ofthe war. But later on, when I came back, I will talk about my experience,

and invariably someone in the audience will bring up the subject and say, 'What about

Pearl Harbor?' They'll say, 'You know, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. It was a sneak

attack. So you guys deserved to be bombed. You deserved the atomic bombing.' So I

reply that you know, one wrong doesn't m^e right the second wrong. The Japanese

govemment was wrong in attacking Pearl Harbor. You know—^the sne^ attack. That was

wrong. But that doesn't mean that it was okay for the United States to drop the atomic

bomb on the citizens, most ofthe citizens. So that's how I reply to it. But it always comes

up. So now, mid from then on, 1980 or so on, I believe that the attack was wrong, but

again you have to look at both sides, and I leamed that, like I told you, Japan, historians,

agree, most historians agree, that what happened at that time, was that Japan was

invading China. That was wrong. The United States wanted to stop that. So the United

States put an ultimatum saying that you withdraw from China right away or we are going to stop your oil supply, everything. And that's what the United States did. They put up

blockades. So now Japmi doesn't have anything, not even for military or civilian use or

need, see. So the Japanese govemment rightly or wrongly decided they had no choice. So

again coming back, I regret that the United States and Japan did not talk more. At that time, you could talk, instead of starting one thing. Or if you are going to do something,

do it gradually. But I believe from what I found out, that United States slapped on the

blockade, 100%, all at once. So that would kind of trigger a reaction from the other side. I think that's what happened. So again, you know, Peml Harbor was wrong, but I hope. Doerr 35

you know, I wish that the United States had thought about it a little more carefully. Just

like Iraq, you know, if we m^e a mistake, I think that's what happens.

LD: What were you doing on August 6, 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on

Hiroshima?

FMT: Again, it's a surprise. Before, just to give you background, the Japmi mainland

was being bombed continuously by B-29's. But for some reason, now we know the

reason why, but at that time we didn't know. But they would always bypass Hiroshima,

you see. They would bomb Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya and all the other major cities.

Hiroshima was the sixth largest city and yet they didn't bomb it. They bombed even

smaller cities. So we didn't know why, we just felt that, 'Oh we were lucky.' But then we found out on August 6 why they didn't bomb us. They were just keeping Hiroshima so they could drop the bomb. If they bombed Hiroshima and then dropped the atomic bomb then it wouldn't have had as much effect. So I think that's what they did so when the

bomb dropped it was a surprise again. I remember that moming, August 6 1945; it was

really really hot, even for the moming. We started working at eight o'clock, and this was

an army factory. It sold like a supply depot, but most ofthe warehouses were almost

empty, you see. Because you know, even for military, they didn't have much weapons or

clothing. So what we were doing mainly was shifting one item from one warehouse to

another warehouse and so forth. Very small mnount of work. Anyway, we went there and the sky was clear, and I still remember, it felt so peaceful.. ..that I kind of forgot

momentarily that we were at war. And we were lined up on an outdoor field, and in Japan Doerr 36

during that time you know the students were mobilized, always had to line up, and the

military officers, would give a pep talk. They would say, 'You have to work hard for the

country,' mid so forth. We were listening to that and two B-29's cmne, flew over

Hiroshima and then a few minutes later, we saw two B-29's—we didn't know they were the same ones—^turned around and came back. And that's when they dropped the bomb.

We still didn't know. There were two parachutes coming down. I was looking at it, and

from one ofthe parachutes I could see some black object, apparently there was a bomb

reflecting in the sunlight. When that parachute disappeared on the other side ofthe

mountain, which was situated between where we were all standing and where the bomb

was dropped, that's when there was the brilliant flash of light. Everything became so

bright that I was standing next to my friend, even closer thmi this distance, right next to

each other. I couldn't see him. Well naturally I got sort of blinded too, but even then, you

know, the light was so great that I couldn't see anybody mound me. And instinctively I

felt the danger so I turned around mid started running. I tried to run to the air raid

shelters—but kind of too late. A few seconds later, the explosion, the air blast came

around the mountain and... .knocked me off. So, after, so many minutes, I got up and

realized that I was alive. I got up, mid looked around, and I realized that I was probably

blown off about 15-20 feet from where I started to run. Then I turned around and looked toward the direction I saw the parachute, mid that's where, as you all know, the

mushroom cloud stmled going up higher and higher; and the flames were shooting from the center ofthe cloud, and so that made me really afraid and I ran to the air raid

shelter.. .1 came out.. .after a while because they told us its safe now, we need to help those people who me under the collapsed roofs. In that compound, there were mostly Doerr 37 concrete buildings, warehouses.. .some were wooden buildings, you see, like offices. So, we had to go mid help these people come out.. .drag them out. And after that, we were given permission.. .to go back to our homes. So, that's what happened on that moming.

That was maybe the first two hours or so...

LD: Earlier you had said that you were helping in the local hospital.. .you were helping people that were affected by it. Can you explain what you were talking about?

FMT: That, like I mentioned to you, you know, we were given permission, so I came back and my mother was very worried. There were two ways to go to my working place, and she thought that if she took one way, and I came back another way, and I was hurt.. ..I wouldn't have her, you know my mother, to care for me. So she waited for me, so she was very happy to see me that I had only some scratches on my arm. Then.. .she immediately told me that my best friend.. .one class under me.. .he was also mobilized, but unfortunately he was mobilized into the center ofthe city where the bomb dropped.

LD: Right....

FMT: So, he was severely burned... he cmne back. ..my mother told me... all black, burned, completely black—only his eyes just showing. So, my mother didn't realize that it was him, until he called on her. So my mother took him immediately to the nearby army hospital. Then she waited for me... I came back...she toldme about it....I went back with my mother to the hospital and started looking for him, see. By that time, many Doerr 38

many victims cmne out ofthe city.. .to the hospital.. .and they were lying on the

hallway—every bit ofthe hospital room was filled.. .and there were very few doctors.

Later, on I found out that Hiroshima had about 300 doctors at that time. But out of that,

only about 30 survived the bombing, you see.. ..So that hospital we went to, had only one

doctor.

LD: Wow...

FMT: And there were hundreds and thousmids of victims coming in.. .see, pouring out of the city. So, it was rapidly filling up and we went back and forth to look for him and we

couldn't find him, until he called on me again—see, just like he called on my mother. I

remember his voice, so, I turned around mid there he was, leaning against the hallway

wall. And he was looking at me.. .1 didn't recognize his face.. .but from his voice I knew

it was him and my mother said, 'That's him!' So, I went to him mid tried to do whatever

we can, but the hospital had very few medicines, especially for bums. So, we couldn't do

much about it except maybe put some ordinary ointment—I don't know what kind of

ointment it was.. .Vaseline or whatever on his most severely burned area or injured mea.

And we tried to.. .encourage him to.. .keep himself up so he could survive—although we

didn't think he could survive. But that night he died and we tried to get in touch with his

family—and he was commuting from outside the city—but we couldn't so he just died

until later on the parents came. But after he died we started helping the other people,

especially people we thought we could save.. .and doctors and nurses would give us

instructions on what to do, which they couldn't do much anyway, there wasn't much Doerr 39

medicine. And the nurses in Hiroshima, from what I found out later, there were

approximately 2,000 nurses. But out of that, only about 200 survived.

LD: Wow...

FMT: So, in the whole city, population 360,000, there were only about 30 doctors and

only about 200 nurses to care for them. And out ofthe 360 80,000 died instmitaneously

and another lets say, 70-80,000 died within the next few months, see. And that was the

situation and even then a small bomb, you know, the Hiroshima bomb, the atomic bomb,

is very very small compared to the one we have now.. .and even with that size of bomb that many people died mid there was no way you could get treatment. People were left up to themselves to do something about it. So, we did our best in the hospital to help these

people. But, they just kept on dying and we were instructed by the doctor to t^e them

out—got to make more room in the hospital building. T^e them out to the yard and line them up all.... mid when that—summer time so when that happened, in one or two days,

now we had to do something about the body, so even thought the relatives were not there,

we could not keep them there anymore, you see. So, we were instructed again to help

some other people to cremate them—mass cremation—and even now when I think about

it, I don't know how I did it.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: Just cremating one person is, you know, bad enough. Doerr 40

LD: Yeah...

FMT: And yet, you know, I don't know how I got by.. ..doing that... + And,

later on, I realized that, you know, my mind was sort of blank because ofthe shock ofthe

bombing, shock of seeing so many people injured, so many people dying around me, that

I think I just lost my sense of feeling, you see. So, I don't remember feeling sad, migry,

afraid, none of these emotions. I was just kind of moving, like a robot...

LD: Yeah...

FMT: Yeah.. .So, I remember what I did, but I don't remember what I was thinking, or

any kind of feeling +. So that's what we did, that day, following day, mid the

weeks that followed... couple of weeks later, youknow, the war ended, but the suffering

didn't end, you see. So, we kept on doing it, and that night.. .we went back to the house,

and it was a small rented house, with all the roof was blown away, the roof was gone, just the frame ofthe was standing. So, both my mother and myself tried to sleep.. .but we

couldn't.. .because by that time, and by the way, the victims, just like myself, I think they

lost sort of like a sense....a sense of touch or whatever, so they didn't cry out in pain. It's

strange, but for so many hours they didn't. But later on, when their sense stmled coming

back then they start crying out in pain. But at night time especially, the younger ones, I

could hear them calling for their mothers, and we lost all electricity, its pitch black, and through the darkness, you know, I hear the calling of their mothers. So I felt as though Doerr 41

my mother mid myself were the only ones alive, you know, in that mea.. ..and we were

hearing these voices from the graveymd. So, Ijust couldn't go to sleep, so I woke up mid

I went up the chimney of a nearby factory. I don't know what I did—the reason why I did that—I still didn't have my, you know, ordinary sense. But I climbed up the

chimney.. .and I looked toward the city.. .and I saw this fire rising all over the city

because the bomb dropped and the fire started pretty soon afterwmds, you see, and itjust

kept on burning. So, I came down and I tried to go to sleep, and maybe I had one or two

hours of sleep. Early the next moming, with the first daylight, you know, I woke up

again, up the chimney again, I looked toward the city and by that time all the burning was

finished and I could see the city completely—like a desert. I could see only a few

concrete buildings standing. And normally you can't see from where my house is

situated.. .and you cmi see through beyond the southern pml ofthe city. But I could see

from my home, from the chimney, all the way to the northern end ofthe city. So in other

words, everything is gone.. .that's why you could see through the city. So, at that time I

felt as though we were in a desert or something, and... .for a month or so, the newspaper

nmned Hiroshima as an "atomic desert" and Nagas^i too. And that's the way it looked.

Then the days that followed we continued to help the people... .hot summer nights... lots

of flies... .so, as days went by, you know, the flies would lay eggs on the wounds, the

maggots would start crawling all over the bodies. So we had to wash the wounds, those

who were still alive, mid wrap it up with whatever kind of cloth we could find, you see,

and that's about the limit of what we could do for these people. And when enough

people—help came into the into the city, the hospital had enough help, then I asked my

mother, 'Can I go to my school?' Because I had a good friend living near the school and I Doerr 42 wanted to find out if he was okay or not; and my mother said, 'Well, you can go but you should not go into the center ofthe city.' See, we didn't know that the bomb was an atomic bomb.

LD:Oh...

FMT: We didn't know any dmiger about radiation, you see. That's why we were helping people; we touched people with a huge mnount of radiation. We walked among them, you see. If we knew about it, we wouldn't do that. But we didn't know that, so we all did it.

So, my mother, even though she didn't know it was an atomic bomb and radiation, the dmiger, instinctively she felt that it was dangerous for me to go to the city. So she told me, 'Don't go into the center ofthe city,' and good thing I obeyed her, because if I didn't—because I had friends in the other part ofthe city—if I didn't obey her, I would be dead by now, if I walked near the ground zero.

LD: Right...

FMT: There's a huge amount of radiation there, see. But I obeyed her and Ijust went to my school, which was in the southern region ofthe city. My friend was okay, I came back. On my way going and coming back—in Japan.. .to prepare for bombing and house of +, Japanese house usually made of wood and paper, you see, so they would bum quite easily. So Japanese govemment demanded all of us to build some concrete water containers, you see. So, as I walked towmd my school, I noticed that a lot of people Doerr 43

put their head inside. So, I thought, 'What are they doing?' And I came by, looked at them, you know, and they were all dead. And later on I found out that the reason why they did that was when they were burned, you lose fluid from your body, you become thirsty, they tried to get some water, and tried to drink that, and after they drink that, they

didn't have the strength to lift themselves up.

LD: Wow...

FMT: And we were told, for whatever reason, don't give water to those victims, because

if you give, they will die right away. So I don't know what the rational behind that, but it

did happen. You give water, they die, you see.. .Maybe it was coincidence, whatever it is,

so we didn't give water as much as you can. So I saw many people like that with their

heads into the water tank, and also a streetcm on the way to my school; and from far

away I saw people stmiding. I said 'What are these people doing in that street car?' You

know, we were bombed, how come they're not going back to their homes? When I come

by, they were all dead too (See Appendix 1 & 2). They were just holding on to it.. .the

whatever you called it.. .the bars.. .that goes over.. .that goes through the streetcar. They

were all dead. And that streetcar was the streetcar that my mother missed. That morning

my mother was supposed to take some papers to the city hall and she saw the streetcar

coming.. .then at that moment she realized that she forgot her importmit papers. So she

ran back to home, got the papers, she rmi back, by that time, the streetcar had passed.

Now if she didn't forget the papers she would have taken the streetcar.... Doerr 44

LD: Oh my gosh...

FMT: And she would have died.. .mid I would have found her in the streetcar. So, this is the thing, you know, some people are lucky, some people are not lucky. But my mother,

while she was waiting on the streetcar, the bomb exploded. She had an umbrella; many

Japanese women used umbrellas to, you know, cover themselves from the intense, you

know, very hot sunlight, you know. But it was a small space that was open, so that the

heat wave came and burned a portion of her neck, and she had a bum. But it was small

and , so you know, she didn't think too much about it, and it healed. But

years later in 1969, so that's, what, 24 years later? She came down with cancer, right,

exact spot, you see. So, that cancer came from the radiation. I mean the heat wave from the bombing. And she died of cancer because it spread throughout her body. And also I

remember another thing is that you know to go to the school I had to cross a bridge.. .mid

as I crossed the bridge, I noticed, I looked down at the river, I noticed that there were

hundred mid hundreds of people lying alongside the bmik ofthe river; and it was kind of

a low tide, and I could see that they were all dead. And again just like the people, the

victims, with their heads in the water tank, you know, these people had their heads in the

water, you see, they were trying to drink the water and they died. And many more were

under the bridge too. And when I saw that for some reason, something in my mind came

back—my feeling—and I suddenly start feeling fear.. .and.. .confusion, and then I

remember thinking that, 'Why do you have to do such things to kill each other?' That's

when my thinking came back.. .and it lasted for many many months after that. So until then for several days, like I told you, Ijust completely didn't have miy ability to feel Doerr 45 things emotionally.. .1 just was completely blank. So, that's what happened in the few

days after the bombing.

LD: Oh my gosh. Do you feel that the United States could have found alternative method to end the war?

FMT: Yes, at that time I didn't know. But, later on because of my experience at the

atomic bombing, I started reading and found out that.. ..some military high officials

recommended to President Truman that, you know.. .the atomic bomb may not be used

because at that time 1945, August, Japan didn't have much of an airforce, the navy was

in a shamble, the army was isolated, you know, in the Pacific Islands here and there.. .there weren't too many soldiers in the mainlmid, very few anti-aircraft guns, in

fact the one that they had.. .can't reach the B-29—^the B-29 was flying too high, you see.

So, U.S. air force had free hand in dropped the bomb mid bombing the city. So, after

reading that, I felt, just like some ofthe historians felt that, you know, believed that, if the

U.S. had simply blockaded Japan—there wasn't much food, Japan had to give up—^then

you didn't have to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you see. And also, they would also

save the U.S. soldiers. Another thing that went around after the war for many mmiy yems

is that using the atomic bomb saved millions of lives, and that's not true.

LD: Ye^.. .that was one of my things, (both laugh) Doerr 46

FMT: Because....that was MacArthur, chief of staff on the intelligence section... chief, I

guess they call it chief too.. .1 forget the generals name, but anyway.. .he said that—he

estimated that if they invaded Japan the most soldiers they would lose would be about

30,000—not millions, you see. Another thing they mentioned, 'Well Japmiese people

were just really hyped up that they are going to attack us. All the Japmiese civilians are

going to attack U.S. forces.' That's nonsense too because you know we were taught to

fight with a bmnboo spear.. .but really thinking about it, I didn't realize it because I was a

little boy, only fifteen yems old, but United States army would land.. .they have all

machine guns mid cannons mid so forth and tanks and they start shooting the Japanese.

How are you going to fight with bmnboo spears? (both laugh) That's silly. But yet, at that time, they thought, well, you know, Japanese people can kill the soldiers with a bamboo

spear. So, that explmiation, you know, wouldn't hold water either, you see. And another thing was, I found out that at that many months before the atomic bombing, Japanese

govemment was in touch with Soviet Union and also Switzerland, which was a neutral

country, through this vmious.... kind of connection... what should is say...route....they

were sending out the feeling that, you know, if the Allies fall, that United States, Great

Britain, Denmark, and so forth would just allow the emperor to be safe. Then the

Japanese govemment would be willing to surrender. But the Allies, said, 'No.' They

wouldn't accept that—it had to be unconditional surrender. So, that delayed the thing.

But if it delayed, what they should have again, like I said, just blockaded Japan. They

couldn't have... lasted too much longer. Well, lets see, it lasted 6 months; I think that's

worth the wait.. ..to save, you know, hundreds of thousands of people. Well, another thing that I found out which is just maybe a theory or something, another reason the Doerr 47

United States dropped the bomb was they were afraid that the Soviet Union was going to

develop an atomic bomb. So they wmited to preamp it—they wanted to use it first and tell the Soviet Union, you better, you know, watch out because we already have a bomb, you

see. But that's not a good reason to, you know, drop a bomb, you see. They could

have—and another thing they said is that some people say, 'Why didn't the United States just drop it on an unpopulated area?' And I think that was possible.. .but the United States

didn't choose to do that. And later on some historians said that the reason why the United

States dropped the bomb....is because they wanted to find out what the affect ofthe

atomic bomb was.

LD: Yes...

FMT: It's a good guinea pig, you see. They could test bombs in Nevada, but you know they are not using any human beings, you see. They wouldn't know and after the

information cmne out, they were really shocked that so mmiy people died all at once, you

see. So, that's another thing, that you know, that doesn't hold water. So.. .some people

continue to say that you saved lives, mid the bomb ended the wm. In a way the bomb

ended the war.. ..but it wasn't the only way that you know, to end the war. So, I'm kind

of saddened that happened. But.. .1 don't really.. .hate Truman—President Truman—or

anyone.. .who had the role in, you know, deciding to drop the bomb because in wartime

almost everybody just doesn't have the right sense, you see. They make a decision based

on false reasoning. So, most ofthe survivors don't hate the United States. So, that's our

feeling on that question. Doerr 48

LD: When you had brought up the estimate about how many lives would be saved, I was just going to say that, the quote that I had.. ..was that Truman said that, "In the long run

we could save a qumler of a million young Americmis from being killed, and would save

an equal number of Japanese young men from being killed."

FMT: Right, so, especially this material that you found downgraded it from one million to (both laugh)

LD: Yes...it kept getting smaller...

FMT: And smaller! But even 250,000, like I told you, the intelligence section general, he

estimated before the atomic bomb that there would be about 30,000 U.S. soldiers, you

see. So, that estimate is still high, but that's the sad pml about wm. We—both sides, our

side and the enemy side, just lose the sense of.. .our mind just doesn't work right. We

lose a sense of reasoning... and we don't take time—we say, 'Oh we better do it now!'

So, that's what happened. I think that's what we are repeating, even now. You know, 61

years later, you know, still doing the same kind of thing. It's not the only the United

States by the way, you know; its mmiy other countries, too. The whole world is... .in the

same situation. So, it's too bad, it's sad, but that's those are the things we need to deal

with...

LD: Right.. .Historian Howard Zinn points our President Trummi's statement that, 'The

world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. Doerr 49

That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of

civilimis," -just to go back to what you were saying before. However, Zinn also shows that the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey said in its official report: "Hiroshima and

Nagasaki were chosen as targets because of their concentration of activities mid

populations." What do you think about these facts?

FMT: That's right, they say the population, they bypassed, like I told you, they never did

bomb Hiroshima, you see. So, then we realized why Hiroshima was spared for a while.

So, now as far as the military base, it's true in a sense. But I was living in Hiroshima, so

I know for a fact that there weren't that many soldiers. They were based there, but

practically almost empty there, you see. So, it's not like hitting a huge militmy base with

hundreds mid thousands of soldiers, or weapons even, you see. Like I told you, where I

was working, hmdly any kind of militmy material was there. So, if that was the purpose, the dropping ofthe atomic bomb would fail, you see, because it didn't have much effect.

But, if they had the purpose of killing as many civilians to scare the Japmiese army to

surrender, yeah it did have an effect, in a sense. So, but, when I really think back, you

probably know, but its not only Japan, not only the United States against Japan, but Japan

did that to China. They bombed....

(END OF SIDE A - TAPE 1)

(BEGIN SIDE B - TAPE 1) Doerr 50

FMT: So, the Japanese air force bombed Chinese cities too, and they killed hundreds of thousands of people, too. And as you know, in Germmiy, the Allied forces, especially air

force of England bombed city like Dresden and so forth... Almost annihilated the whole

population. So, at that time, it was okay to kill civilimis—^that's the way to end the wm.

But, now, I think we are going a little overboard in trying to protect the civilians because

especially again you know the terrorists and so forth.. .this country like Irmi and Syria or

recently Hezbollah attack Israel; mid U.S. had to be really careful, Israel had to be really

careful, try not to kill the civilian. But that's almost impossible, when you know the terrorist is just mingling mnong the civilians. So, I feel that it's the fault of civilians, too.

If they don't want to be killed, they should get out—where the people are fighting. Or, the guerrillas or the terrorists are there. They need to take action themselves and get out

of there, you see. Because you have to attack someone who is attacking you; but if you

hold back too much, they are going to kill your people. So, the pendulum has swung the

other way too much now. So, these are the things that go on with all kinds of war.

LD: Like you were saying before, do you think that Pearl Harbor had finally been

avenged through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima?

FMT: Say that again, I didn't quite hear you.

LD: Historian Stephen Ambrose states that Pearl Harbor had finally been avenged through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Doerr 51

FMT: So, that's the same thing, historians say that when they didn't really do the

studying. Like I said, bombing of Pearl Hmbor, sneak attack was wrong—definitely

wrong. But dropping the atomic bomb on the two cities, with 99% ofthe people who died

were civilimis, that's wrong too—that's a greater wrong. SO, when they say 'avenge,' that's the wrong way to avenge someone. Because if they are going to avenge that—really, to be fair—if they want to avenge that, they should attack the military

forces; which the U.S. did. They defeated the Japanese navy at Midway, and all the South

Pacific Islands—Guadalcanal, Saipan, and so forth.. .Iwo Jima. They did that already.

There was no need to further avenge. It's just like, to me, it's just like, two people

fighting. And one was strong at the beginning, so they punched the first one; B, A. A

would punch the B, and knock them down. And for a while, the A is winning, but then, the B regains confidence and he starts fighting harder and he has help from others. When

you really think about World War II in the Pacific, at first it was the United States mid

Japan. But then afterwards, Japmi had to fight China, United States, England, Australia,

you know. And then the Soviet Union was in the back, you see. So a lot of people came

in to help the United States, mid they started beating up the B. So the B fell onto the

ground, and he couldn't get up; and that's when, you know, A would just stomp on him

and get a baseball bat and smack him over and over again. That's exactly what happened

in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.. .because U.S. had a superb intelligence system; they cracked the code of Japanese forces. They knew what was going on; they knew what was

happening mainly in Japan. So, they knew they didn't have to do that. So, when anybody

said that Peml Harbor was avenged by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Well, in their mind

yes... .but that's the wrong way to avenge people, like I mentioned, you see. You know. Doerr 52

you don't beat someone up that's on the ground already! (both laugh) That persons down,

you keep on beating them up, and you kill them, you are a murderer! You go to jail for that.. ..you could be executed, you see. So, in an intemational way, one country beat up

on miother country, when another country doesn't have ways of fighting back anymore.

That's wrong too.. .So, it's sad. In fact, miother thing, I don't know whether you have

found out about it or not, but I have read some mlicle and the article mentioned that in the

United States even now, 61 years alter, still, about 70-75% ofthe U.S. citizens feel, they

believe, that the dropping ofthe atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is justified,

you see. And that's very.... I'm very surprised and feel for the people that feel like that.

Because as long as enough people, more than 50% ofthe people feel this certain war

action is justified, we are going to continue to have war. And so, in 1980, or 1970, about

20 years later, after the bombing, I still had hope that if we do something internationally

we could stop this atomic bombing or nuclear wm, as we call it now. Now, I mn very

pessimistic. I think nuclem war is going to stml in the next 25 or at the most, 50 years

and I feel that it's going to happen. There is no way anybody or any country can stop it,

you see. And the reason why, as you know, things that happen in North Korean, Iran,

Syria, Lebanon, you know, Israel, and Palestinian attacking, there is no end to it.. .suicide

bombers. So, how are you going to reason with these people, you see? We cmi't.. .If I

have several hundred terrorists in mi auditorium and I tell them about the atomic

bombing, I don't think I'm going to get to them at all. (laughs) It's just going to go right through one ear mid out through the other em. So, you cmi't reason with these people.

So, then the only way is, you know, the free nations have to cooperate and stop them. But

even in that respect—we are failing. Because the United States, no matter what the other Doerr 53

countries say, some people in United States say, the United States rightly or wrongly is trying to stop this thing from happening. But yet look at Iran, the sanction from the

United Nations. The big country China mid Russia is not backing it up; they have the veto

power, so you can't enforce it as much. And Korea again, they are not much intemational

support in stopping them. So, if you don't do it, I feel that it's just going to drag on and

on mid on; and Iran is going to develop nuclem bombs. They develop it, terror is going to

get it. They will attack and that's going to be the beginning ofthe third World Wm. So,

I'm very very pessimistic.

BREAK -55 min 16 seconds - 56 minutes 38 seconds

LD: I read about in one book how when we were intercepting all the Japanese codes, we

actually knew that they were going to attack Pearl Harbor; and some historians blame that

Roosevelt purposely didn't let us know that the attack was going to happen so we could

have an excuse to enter the war.

FMT: Yeah, I read about that too, but I think that it's possible. Although, I don't like to think that our own President would do it purposely... (laughs) My feeling is kind of half

and half, you know, it's hmd to believe, but under the circumstances it might be possible,

you see. Because then you have a great reason to start war, declare war, you see. But then, look how many several thousand of our navy personnel were killed, you see. So, I

don't understand that either. I read another mlicle that the British intelligence mentioned

something like that, too. Because they gave the United States the information and they Doerr 54

feel that the United States should have known, but yet.. .historically.. .on the surface we

still maintain that, you know, the United States didn't know about it. So, we do crazy things, we do wrong things, mid war stmls.

LD: Ijust couldn't believe it when I read it. For our paper we had to start with an

'interesting' or 'shocking' fact for our introduction. So when I was reading it I was

wondering, who he actually do that? Who he do that to our navy? So, I wasn't sure.

FMT: But sometimes our leaders would think, 'Yeah this may be wrong, but for our

country I have to do it,' you see. That's the kind of reasoning they have. If that's true, I

could sort of understand, even though I know that that's wrong, you see. This thing is sad

about leaders. It's very difficult to find a true leader because if you become a true leader,

you are going to be attacked from all directions, you see. And most politicians don't want to risk their political life, you know, so they try to give in, cover up, and all these kinds of things, you see.

LD: What was life like when you moved back to the United States?

FMT: The atomic bomb was in 1945 and you know, war ended August 15 , but I had to

wait three years before I could come back. And the reason why is even though I made an

application to retum to the United States, to Hawaii, the U.S. govemment, naturally, had to make sure, clarify, that I am indeed a citizen, you see. And so mmiy people wanted lo

come back to the United States from Europe, Japmi, and so forth, so it took three yems for the paperwork to go through. And finally they gave the 'okay' and I was able to come Doerr 55 back in 1948. I mentioned that my parents decided we need to come back, so that was the initial intention. So, we need to continue education and another reason Japmi was in a real deep depression after the wm. They didn't have food, clothing, you know. The economy was in a shamble and so forth. So, naturally we would choose to come back this way. But it took over a month to come back because the ship that we were able to t^e from Yokohama....but instead of coming from Yokohama to Hawaii directly, which would have only been several days or so, it went to the Philippines, then to Shmighai, it went to Hong Kong and then finally we came back our way. So it took over a month or so.. .it was a lo-oong trip! And I was glad, myself and my brother, were glad we were back in Hawaii, finally. And then even though our neighbors knew, it's not only the

Japanese community but other communities, knew we were in Japan in the war mid came back. Again, there was no discrimination, per say, as far as that was concerned. But, during the war in Japan, naturally, wrongly though, the Japanese govemment prohibited any one to use English, and that was a dumb thing to do! (laughs) They should have encouraged people to use English because then they could train some Japmiese people to become intelligence personnel, to try to bre^ the secret code ofthe United States. So, we couldn't use any English. So, during the four years, I couldn't use any English, so I forgot most of my English. When I came back to Hawaii, my father wanted me to go to the church school, so I applied for it mid had to take a test. They told me, 'Oh, your math is good, your history is excellent, all the others are good, your English is terrible!' (both laugh) I graduated from high school in Japan, I graduated in 19... .the bomb was '45.. .1 graduated in '46. I came back '48, so its two years after I graduated, so I should have Doerr 56

been a sophomore in college, you see. But yet, I couldn't pass the English test, so they

pushed me back to ninth grade! Five grades back, you see.

LD: Wow!

FMT: I had to start all over. But then I started catching up fast, you know. Then I was

able to jump from ninth to eleventh mid so forth. Then unfortunately, when I was just

about to graduate, I few months before I was able to graduate from high school in

Hawaii, and get my diploma, the Korean War started. And I was already 21, so they

drafted me.

LD:Oh...

FMT: And I hated war, but yet I had to go, you see. And then I was trained in.. .a basic training center.. .then I was sent to Kansas, and then to Japan, and then Korea, you see.

So, I just stayed in for about three yems. So, by the time I cmne back from the Koremi

War, discharged, I finally was able to get into university. I was about nine yems behind

my peers, you see. So, students the same age as me were graduating from college already,

and working, yet I was just stmling college. And also I kept my experience in Hiroshima

completely, except telling it to my father, I didn't tell anybody, you see. Nobody asked.

So, Ijust kept it until 1982 or so when Senator Kennedy invited me to testify to this sub­

committee and at that time the nuclear freeze movement was going on all over the world.

And that's why he had this sub-committee orgmiize, mid we testified there. And since then, I kind of opened up and felt that I need to talk about it, you see, if anyone invites Doerr 57 me to do so, you see. So, from 1945 to 1982, so that's about 35, 37 years, I kept quiet. I didn't want to talk about it, you see. Most ofthe survivors felt that way.

LD: Wasitdifficuhto-

FMT: It was difficult because even now I don't speak about my experience to often now.

Soon after '82 and all the way up to '95, you know, I talked at least 5-6 times a year, sometimes 20-30 times a year, you see. But each time I talk about, when I'm speaking about it, its okay. But after I spe^, I go home, night comes, you know, I need to go to bed, going to bed, then it hits me, you see. I get really depressed about it. All the memories flood into me, and I can't go to sleep, and so forth. That happened for mmiy many years, and that affect is getting less and less, but, you know, the event that happened on August 6, 1945, to me it feels like it happened just a few months ago. That's how vividly we remember things. It's not a good memory, I don't like to talk about it, but

I feel that I must talk about it if I am asked to, you see. Because that's one way I think I can contribute, in a small way, for a possible world peace. The evil forces are gaining more momentum.

LD: When I was little, in fourth grade, we read Sadako and the Thousand Cranes, and I remember, to me, itjust sounded so awful but I did not actually understmid the event. We briefly leamed about it emlier in our history class, and how it was due to Japanese aggression, and I think just the way that we learn about it is different, and I have always wanted to hear of mi actual experience. Doerr 58

FMT: Right. It's true, Japanese did invade China, which they were not supposed to. But

you know that when you study history, the reason why, it may not be the good reason, or the right reason why, but one ofthe reason I read about it is because Japan's population

was exploding, so they needed more space. So, naturally they went that way, you see.

You know, China had more land, you see. That's what they did—it was the wrong way of

doing it. So, in that sense it was aggression. But on the other hand, the United States have to reflect on their past history too, because they definitely discriminated Orientals and

because of that our pments suffered from it, Chinese people suffered too, but it gradually

improved. I don't know what you know about it, but the Japanese people, you know, now

a day you can think that happened before. But, Orientals would come to the United

States, they become permmient residents, they couldn't own land, you know that?

LD: Oh really?

FMT: Now, if you do that, whatever govemment, city, country or, state, they will get

really pounded hard, you see. Right? But that was the thing that was happening. So, they

work hard, they pay taxes, and this I can say, with pride in sense. Orientals when they

came here, the crime rate was almost zero, because we were taught that you don't do bad things, you see. You do that, you are going to shmne your ancestors, you are going to

shmne the fmnily nmne, you see. So, I don't know if any, Japmiese, or Chinese or

Oriental fmnilies, if they had children do bad things. But now, its different you see. So,

even though the Orientals were law abiding, still they were discriminated against. So, that Doerr 59

affected the Japanese govemment too, according to history. The Japanese government tried to ask the U.S. govemment to stop the discrimination, you see. Because naturally, they are their citizens in the beginning, until the Japmiese citizen becomes permmient

U.S. citizen, you see. So, they had to try to intercede, but U.S. govemment didn't listen to

it because ofthe public opinion, whatever it is. So, that is one ofthe root cause of this

World War II happening, you know, many years before that. So, when you discriminate

against them, they start resenting them, and then goes back to Japan and then they start

resenting mid so forth, you see. Although again, I repeat, that's not a correct, you know, a right, miswer to some problems. You need to talk about it, you need to persevere, and try to remedy the situation, you see. But U. S. at that time didn't think much about

discrimination. In fact, in Hawaii, there was one person who was executed because he

was falsely—later on they found out—he was falsely accused of raping a Caucasimi

wommi. And he was executed. And many mmiy yems after World War II ended, some

people dug into that and they found out that it was false. Yet, because this accused was

Japanese, young man, they didn't really look into it, you know mid they executed him.

So, sometimes my wife will even say that, you know, Japmiese people, the history, she

would learn about the history, and hear that they me barbarians! (laughs) But it's not only

Japan! Look at the history of Europe. European countries were barbarimis too. They

killed each other, they executed people. Even Christian authority, right, persecuted some

Christians. The Catholic Church executed the Protestants. So, this is not limited to only

Japan, it's all over the world. So, that's why we need to really think about it and

whenever something happens we shouldn't blame one person, one group, one nation until

we really check into it, not only the immediate cause, but the background too, to find out. Doerr 60

The best thing to do is, don't hit anyone! I gave a speech talking about my speech and at the end I tried to remember to tell the audience, especially the children, I tell them that

I'm not a saint, I have many people I don't like, because they did things to me that I felt

weren't right. I dislike them, but I don't go and punch them in the face, you see. I don't

hurt them and I try to forget what they did to me as much as I can. But I mn human being,

so it's difficult to forget. I tell them, that's okay; you don't have to feel guilty about that, that's why we are hummis. But I tell them, please don't hurt anyone. No matter what the

reason is, you see. And that's what we need to remember in this world, nation to nation.

BREAK - 1 hour 12 min 2 sec - 1 hour 12 min 19 sec

LD: I understand that you were the former President ofthe Committee of Hiroshima

Survivors. Cmi you please explain what your job entailed?

FMT: At that time, first I was one ofthe directors ofthe board of directors, this

happened after 1982 when I found out that there was group of survivors in the United

States. So, I was invited to join the bomd of directors, I did and from 1982 on to 1992,

about ten years. And after 1994,1 was selected to become a President, and then from

1994 to 2004, for ten years, I was the President. And my main job was to.. .keep address

ofthe problem ofthe survivors in the United States, and do whatever we can, to you

know, whether they need financial help, but mainly their problem was health wise from the atomic bombing. And our emphasis was on trying to get some kind of

help.. .medically... psychologically.. .help from the U.S. govemment. And we tried that. Doerr 61

not after I became President, but before that. We went as fm as having a public meeting,

or something, with the Congress, and so forth.. .mid California State Legislature. But we

didn't get anywhere beyond that, you see. And in the state legislature, my predecessor, the President, went there to testify why the survivors need help, you see. Especially give

some kind of medical help.. .we wanted to have extensive minual examinations to see

what's going on, you see. And we even offered to become a guinea pig, so that the U.S.

govemment could know what the long term effect ofthe atomic bomb is. But even then,

even with that offer, we were refused and the state legislature when my predecessor, testified, some ofthe state legislature stood up and said, 'Why should we help these so

called survivors because they were at that time our enemies?', you see. And so my

predecessor was really disappointed, really saddened mid he told the legislature, 'But you

know that I was, that I am, a U.S. citizen. Itjust happened because of fate I was in

Hiroshima and I was at the atomic bombing. So how can you say that we were enemies?

We were just caught in the so-called enemy country—we couldn't come back.' And that's what happened. And the United States govemment too, we heard that they

continued to refuse help mid the reason why they don't wmit to help, the main reason, is

because the U.S. govemment feels, the officials feel, if they help the survivors, they felt that they would be admitting that the atomic bombing was wrong. And we said that,

'Why would you be admitting anything? You just saying that many survivors need help,

so just help. You can use us as guinea pigs, you see.' And that's the main work that we

were doing. And since we failed to get help from the U.S. govemment, then we turned

our attention to the Japmiese govemment. And we worked for 20 or so many years, my

predecessor mid myself. And every year I go to Japan and try to ask.. .appeal.. .to the help Doerr 62

ministry in Japan, the Japanese govemment, to extend help. And at first they never did,

but see, and only four yems ago they started to help us, only after we sued the Japmiese

govemment.

LD: Really?

FMT: We had to sue them because just appealing to them, they never listened. And we

sued them and mainly the Koremi survivors sued them, you see. And survivors in Brazil

did too, and we did too. But mainly Korean survivors sued them. They won mid after they

lost, they finally, grudgingly, started extending the help, you see. And this is the work that I was continually doing. Right now I'm not the President ofthe Committee of

Atomic Bomb Survivors in the USA, but we have another group here, survivors only, in

Southern California, called North Americmi A-bomb Survivors Association. So, I am sort

of a delegate because I go to Japan to talk with the help ministry people, talk with our

supporters, mid plan our, you know, trial against the Japanese govemment, you see. So these are the things that I continue to do. And I represent the survivors here, mainly in

Southern California. But also in some other states too, mid there is miother person that is

President, you see. So, that's what I am doing now.

LD: Is there anything that I missed that would help me better understand the subject?

FMT: I think generally you covered most basis, I always feel that the most important thing to understand, try to, whoever is going to read your papers, and later on, maybe, I Doerr 63 think you mentioned it, that it may go on the internet, or whatever, or the librmy. So,

whoever reads that I would like them to really understand, what we need to forget, or

should I say, put aside, is who dropped the bomb, you know, who was at fault. I don't think we need to talk about fault and so forth. So, we need to put our attention, place our

attention to the affect of atomic bombing mid we have to know the relationship of atomic

bombs to the current nuclear bomb; because now it's a hydrogen bomb, and its

hundred.. .thousand times more powerful. And we need to think about the consequences

of having a nuclear war happen, you see. If you remember that, I think we can

compromise in a way, you know—if most of us remember that. We can compromise, we

can give and take mid so forth, then we can avoid this nuclear war that I feel is going to

happen for sure now, you see. That's what I hope people will realize. We need to put

aside, 'Oh I am an Americmi. I am Japmiese.' We need to stop thinking that way; we

need to think that we are human beings on this earth. I am one ofthe human members. I think that's the way we need to think about it. Otherwise, we start saying, 'Well, it was

okay to drop the bomb.' But it wasn't good to drop the bomb. So, unless we do that, we

don't have any future. Young people like you me going to have much a future, not too

long a future. Or our grandchildren are not going to have too much of a future either, you

see. That's what I always worry. Every time I see little children, you know, I feel happy, I

see them smiling, m^es me happy, but then I feel sad; because my mind will go back to the atomic bombing, go back to the killing. I say, 'Oh what's going to happen to this cute

baby? Cute girl? Cute boy?' You see... And that makes me depressed. But I am always trying to, you know, push aside the depression that comes in. And say, well there is a

future here. Somehow these children could learn in elementary school, library, and so Doerr 64 forth, about what really happened—putting aside the blame, fault, and so forth. But really

what's going to happen. It's our world, nobody can else put that on us—we do it. But

unfortunately, most ofthe adults me so preoccupied with some other things and the

wrong things. It's okay to be preoccupied with daily stuff, but I'm talking about

preoccupied like in China and Russia. They just want to protect their interest, they are

doing trade with Iran, and so they don't want to lose that— from what I read. So, they

don't join the United States and England and so forth to put pressure on them to, you

know, give up the ambition of getting nuclear weapons, you see. And that's why they are

going to get the nuclear weapons. So, that's what, you know, I hope people will realize

and pay more attention to what's going on. That's why I'm glad that your school had this project like this. If all the schools would do that these ideas would spread. Just like, you

probably know, mid I'm shocked about this, I looked at the program by FOX news, they

had a documentary about what's happening to children ofthe Arab nation.

LD: Oh, yes, I noticed it was on, but I wasn't able to watch it.

FMT: And then this little girl about two years old, she was asked, 'Do you like the

Jews?' and she said 'No, I hate them!' They said, 'Why?' mid she said, 'Because I was told to hate them!' They said, 'What are you going to do about it?' and she said, 'When I

grow up, I'm going to kill them!' Three year old saying that!

LD: (gasp) Oh my gosh. Doerr 65

FMT: And I was shocked when I saw that documentary. This person went around to

check on what's the thinking behind it. And that's what they're teaching the children!

LD: Wow.

FMT: This is what we need to realize in the United States. And you know.. .these terrorists aren't ordinary enemies. That's something that we really have to buckle down

and think about. That's why I get upset in the United States, some ofthe Americmis, they

start yelling, 'Well, the government is invading our privacy!' I don't mind giving up

some of my privacy or personal rights, if you can stop them from killing people, you see.

And we have to do that. If we, you know, sit back and say, 'Well, you know, we are a

democratic country, we can't invade personal privacy and so forth. We got to give all

rights to the terrorists too.' We keep on saying that, we me never going to stop them.

Then what's going to happen? We me never going to have any freedom? No liberty. No

nothing.

LD: Right.

FMT: That's what seems like at least more than 50% of Americans are thinking, you

know. So this is why its frightening, what's going on in the world and I Have to

consciously try to block the thoughts. But, lately in the morning, I wake up, unfortunately

about 5 o'clock or so, sometimes, 4 o'clock, and I cmi't go back to sleep! Because all these thoughts come flooding in! Actually, it's not only world situations, but some Doerr 66

personal things come in too, but all these come into my mind and usually its depressing thoughts, its not like a happy kind of feeling coming into my mind, (laughs) So I had to try to constantly push that aside and think about something happy, good, think about my

grandson, my family, you know, people like you that are putting all the effort in trying to

understand about what happened. And then I try to block off the bad things. But it's a

constant struggle.

LD: What are these? (Point to a comic book on the table and lmge book)

FMT: This you can take it. This was written by K.G. Nakasawa, and this is a true story.

Comics usually aren't true stories. But he is a cmloonist, he experienced this. The

character in here is himself, this boy is him.

LD: Oh really?

FMT: Yeah. And that's why he wrote about it. This is one ofthe cmloons that he wrote,

and when you read this, you know, you can see his anger and his confusion and so forth.

And you can let your classmates look at it too, and you can take this home.

LD: Okay, thmik you. Doerr 67

FMT: And this is the one that I told you over the phone that I couldn't find and finally found it this moming. This is at the end ofthe bridge. This is the bridge I cross over to go to my school.

LD: Oh, okay.

FMT: So, this side is my house and cross over and I had turned over here to go to my school. And this is that day.

LD: Wow.

FMT: So, when this picture was taken, I didn't cross it. It was several days afterwards.

Most of these people probably died, you know, they were severely burned and so forth.

They're standing and sitting right now, but they didn't last too long, you see. So, that's one ofit. And now here me some ofthe scenes....its kind of gruesome. But here is the baby, instmitaneously killed.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: And you see how black they are.

LD: Yeah... Doerr 68

FMT: That's what my friend was like that too. So, you can't tell who they me. The

victims that I saw coming out of center ofthe city, I saw them several days after mid they

kept on coming out—all with their arms like this (stretches his mms out in front of him)

and they were walking. Most ofthem with no clothes, black, skin hanging down from their arms, or pml ofthe body, some had blisters all over them. I could see their eyes but

other features gone. The hair was all burned off. So, you couldn't tell if it was a man or

wommi. Children you could tell because they are small, you see. And so, like this boy

was instantaneously killed. And here.. .like I mentioned, this was the way they walked.

See, this is someone, drew this picture by memory. And that's the way I saw, you know,

hundreds of people walking out ofthe city.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: And this is a water tank that I mentioned to you.

LD: Oh, wow!

FMT: You know on the way going to school, trying to find my friend, you see. Some just

fell into the water.

LD: Would the water possibly have been contmninated? Doerr 69

FMT: Before miyone fell in, it wasn't too contaminated. Naturally it may not be really

fresh water. But, its not to the point where it was contmninated, you see. But, when

something like this happened, yeah, definitely it's contaminated. You have radioactive

substmice in this water too, you see. So, naturally, if they drank that they would die more

so. (turning the pages ofthe book) Here is what I have seen from time to time, this

mother, with the baby; and I forgot to mention this. But, on the way coming back from

my working place, where I was mobilized, going toward my home, it was eerily quiet.

You know, the bomb fell, exploded, mmiy people instmitaneously died, and mmiy thousands, tens of thousands, were injured, burned, so forth. Yet, nobody was crying, like

I told you. Nobody was crying, nobody was screaming from pain. So, it was very very

quiet. So, when I'm walking down, I felt that, 'Was it a dream that I saw the bomb

explode?' It was so quiet, and on my way coming home, in the distance I noticed a young

mother pushing a cmriage, a baby carriage, you see. And as I cmne closer, I realized the

mother was almost completely naked. She was injured, she was bleeding, and then as I

passed by, I noticed the baby, a little girl, maybe two years old, mid she wasn't saying

anything. Both ofthem were just staring straight ^ead, you see. And I looked at the baby

girl mid she had a huge wound in her cheek; and a piece of wood was sticking out from

her mouth, you see.

LD: Oh, my gosh!

FMT: And with that injury, the baby wasn't crying. Doerr 70

LD: Wow

FMT: So I was shocked, you know, seeing that. So, something like hat happened all over the city. And then as days passed by, there was no way of taking the bodies to a funeral

house or crematorium, so everyone had to do it all in the open. Usually a private

cremation, but this happened all over the city. And like I mentioned to you, we had to

have a mass cremation too. This one you, you can read it afterwards, this poem I think

would sort of summarize what the feeling of these victims, you see. This poem, written

by a girl named . We can come back to that later so that you can read it.

(turning the pages) This is some ofthe concrete buildings, and the metal. Just like that

(snaps his fingers), it became like this.

LD: Wow Doerr 71

FMT: Everything in the surrounding area just blew off.

LD: Just the frame was left....

FMT: Yeah.. .So that's how powerful the bombing was. And Hiroshima, remember I told you from the chimney, this is the way it looked, you see.

LD: Wow!

FMT: Some concrete buildings, all the rest were burned, because all it was all wooden and paper.. .houses, you see. So, instantmieously is became, you know, in less than one day, it became a desert, (turning the pages) I didn't mention this, but as myself and my mother helped treat the people, try to save as many people as we can; and people who didn't have any injury.. .started to complain that they feel dizzy, that they would vomit, nausea, and they can't stand up, they have to lie down. And then they would start bleeding from their gums and then finally, this happened, you see (points to picture of a young boy with red spots all over his face). See, the spots, all over the body. And this is a.. .late term radiation sickness (See Appendix 13).

LD: Oh, really? Doerr 72

FMT: I guess it's a bleeding, you know, subcutaneous, under the skin bleeding that happened. And when we saw this, we knew that that person would die, you see. And this is one what many people were afraid of. And again, no one knew that the bomb was an atomic bomb, no one knew that there was a dmigerous radioactive substance, you know, that we need to avoid. So, these people, most ofthem, came from the outlying areas, into the city, to help the victims who were dying or who were injured, to carry them out to a facility so they could be cured. But because they came into the city, where the radioactive material, the volume ofit, the mnount ofit was huge, they contracted the radiation sickness, you see. But they didn't know any better, to wash their body afterwmds, you see.

LD: Wow....

FMT: So, after several days, or several weeks, this is what happened and theyjust continued to die.

LD: How late did you find out about the radiation?

FMT: That was after the wm, the physicist, a Japanese physicist, was the professor in a university, made a statement saying that he believed the bomb was an atomic bomb. And that's because the United States didn't say anything at the beginning. But gradually news started coming out, and rumors spread that Hiroshima would not have miy vegetation for

70 years. It wasn't true, but they said because the radiation effect, vegetation would not Doerr 73 grow. And that these kinds of things would start coming out, that you know, you have radiation, this will happen. So, then we found out, you know, some people when they had any kind of spot they tried to get medical attention right away. And, this here, you see, the thing that I mentioned, the bleeding from the gum. This is sort of like the process.

Also, the heat wave was so great, that this lady was wearing clothes, and it had a pattem like this, and the pattem was imprinted on her body, you know. The clothes burned off.

"v^ ">'^ ^... r'.!r'*„,f "^ ,''

LD: Wow! Oh yeah... I saw that on the internet, and also in a book I was reading that the light was so bright that images and shadows of people were permanently imprinted on buildings (See Appendix 3). Doerr 74

FMT: Right, on the building, on the concrete. There was one famous shadow, it's

somewhere in here, but a man was appmently sitting, waiting for the bank to open, and then the bomb exploded. And naturally, instantaneously, he was so close to ground zero,

he burned up, you see.

(END OF SIDE B - TAPE 1)

(BEGIN SIDE A - TAPE 2)

LD: Right.

FMT: And his shadow, his body profile, was imprinted on the steps.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: And they kept the stone somewhere, (turning the pages) This is a, keloid, this is a

victim in Nagasaki, but some people got this kind of thing. It's a bum, then it healed, it

formed a scar tissue.

LD: Whoa.

FMT: And I know of a lady, who is in the Los Angeles area, she had about 38 plastic

surgeries. Doerr 75

LD: Really?

FMT: To try to remove this. So, she doesn't look too bad now. But in the beginning, it was worse than this one here, you see.

LD: What exactly is that?

FMT: It's a type of scare tissue. As youknow, when you get a cut, it heals, you have some scar tissue remaining. It's something like that. But scare tissue from bums that resulted from atomic radiation or atomic heat is a different kind of scar tissue because you remove it and it still keeps on growing back. So, you have a hard time removing it.

(turning the pages) This is the last one, but this is Nagasaki, here is Hiroshima. This is, let me see know, here, here is the mountain and I was working somewhere around here. Here is the ground zero, right here, that's where they dropped the bomb.

LD: Okay.

FMT: And now they have the peace memorial museum mound here. They kept it as a pmk, they call it Peace Pmk.

LD: Oh yeah, I think that my teacher showed me a picture of it. Doerr 76

FMT: That's close to the ground zero where they dropped the bomb. This "orangeish"

dmk mea, those are the places that were totally destroyed, you see. For one bomb to that,

you can see how we were severely affected, you see. Then somewhere in this yellow mea

is less than that, and the green area is more. And fortunately I lived—you see the bridge that I mentioned, that I crossed—my high school was here, and my home was somewhere

around here, you see, I had to walk over the bridge to the school. And fortunately, our

house was completely demolished, our rental house, but as fm as the physical damage to the hummi body, from the bombing, was not as great, you see, it was the least amount,

you see. (turning the pages) So, I mentioned about the river, there are so many rivers, thousands of bodies floating down into the ocean, even the sea, coming from here. And

many survivors, victims, injured, went to the outlying areas, all the way this way, to try to

escape. And....

LD: And you talked about how mmiy people escaped to Nagasaki and then they

experienced the second bombing also.

FMT: That's right. And some people died at Nagas^i, even though they escaped the one

in Hiroshima.

LD: Oh my gosh.

FMT: That's really unfortunate, you know. Doerr 77

LD: Yeah...

FMT: Yeah.. .1 know of another survivor, she was working somewhere mound here, she

crawled all the way, from here, that's many miles, you see. So here is about 2 _ miles,

she crawled from there. It took her several days to crawl because she couldn't walk. She

kept on crawling to her home and she survived, although she passed away recently. So, there were many people like that who had to crawl away as best as they could, (turning the pages) So, let's come back to this one, here, so you can read the poem, and I think

you could understand this poem. This one here.

LD: Should I read it out loud.. ..or to myself?

FMT: You can read it to yourself, whichever way you are comfortable with.

LD: (reading the poem) Wow.. .When it says that spots appear, is that what you talking

about, with the picture?

FMT: Yes, the picture that I mentioned to you.

LD: Wow, that's very scary—especially about her mom and brother...

FMT: In her case she lost everyone. She became an orphmi—losing her brother too.

There were many fmnilies like that. So, after the a-bombing there were many many. Doerr 78 hundreds, and maybe even thousands of orphmis. So, for many yems in Hiroshima they had to set up orphanages, for these atomic orphans, you see. Fortunately, most ofthem, with the support of psychologists and kind, ordinmy people, they made it and became adults. They have told me, form time to time, as a fellow survivor, you see, they said it was hard and they had more nightmmes thmi ordinary survivors, like I had. They continued to have their nightmares because they didn't have really any emotional support from their fmnilies, like this girl, she doesn't have anybody.

LD: That is so scary.

FMT: Yeah, scary, and sad. And I'm sure many ofthem weren't able to overcome the emotional damage, you see.

BREAK - 1 hr 41 min 55 seconds - 1 hr 43 minutes 12 seconds

LD: I am glad that I was able to do the interview because my backup was a person who was a young boy in one ofthe Japmiese internment cmnps in California and he lived in my area. But I was more interested in this subject.

FMT: But at least, in the United States, like I said, even the U.S. citizens, second generation Japanese -Americans, even they were discriminated against, mid like you said, were put in Japanese internment cmnps. But if it were in a different country, it would have been worse. Doerr 79

LD: Right.

FMT: But at least in the United States, you know, it was wrong, but at least their lives

were not in danger, for most degrees. I just hope that no one else would experience what

we experienced, but like I said, it's very difficult to feel more optimistic; before I was

half optimistic, half pessimistic. But now, it's about 90% pessimistic.

LD: Yeah....

FMT: It's something that I consciously try to forget about. But if I don't, I really get

angry! (both laugh) Some country—like Russia or China, aren't doing the things that they

could do, and then I'll get really depressed. So either way, it's not good. So sometimes

my families says that I go out of my way to funny. My wife and my daughter say,

'You're acting like a little kid!' (both laugh) But that's one of my defensive mechanisms to forget about it.

BREAK

FMT: I believe that war starts from individuals, between two people. If two people, or

several people become selfish and don't care about other people, then war starts. I read a

story about monkeys, and this was done in Japan; and the resemchers came to the

conclusion that using the monkeys—^that animals and hummis beings—if a certain

percentage of animals become indoctrinate to certain ideas, good or bad, once you pass Doerr 80 this threshold, if you want world peace you have to make sure that less thmi this amount

of people aren't becoming selfish. I think that's true in a sense, this is why I still have

some hope that spewing about my experience—I talk to you, from you, you tell 5 people,

and 5 people talk to another 5 people and then it spreads. As long as we cmi keep this

number up then maybe we can prevent war. It's tilting this way so the bad one is gaining

more momentum. So, that's the scary part ofit.

LD: Well... .thank you for your time.

FMT: You are very welcome.

LD: This was very enjoyable.

FMT: Thmik you for doing the resemch and coming so far away. Doerr 81

Interview Analysis

American novelist Mark Twain touched upon the topic of history when he stated,

"A historian who would convey the truth must lie. Often he must enlmge the truth by

diameters; otherwise his reader would not be able to see it," (Famous History Quotes).

This may be accurate in certain spectrums, nevertheless Twain's notion of history and the job of a historian contradicts with that of historian Edward Carr's. Carr believes that,

"Accuracy is a duty not a virtue," when it comes to the role of a historian (The Historian

and His Facts). A historian must accurately present the past of a nation, since, according to historian Arthur Schlesinger, the history of a nation is like memory to an individual.

Therefore, history is a vital part of every nation because a "nation denied a conception of

its past will be disabled in dealing with its present and its future" (51-52). One ofthe

most significant parts to history mid a historian are primary sources. Despite being

burdened with what Schlesinger refers to as "unconscious preconceptions," the primary

source provides historimis with first hand accounts of history. One form of a primary

source is oral history. Many people view oral history with skepticism since the memory

ofthe interviewee is constantly questionable, and they consist of their own biases.

Nevertheless, oral history allows the historimi to hear a first hand account that has not yet

been processed or interpreted by miother individual. The history ofthe atomic bombing

of Hiroshima has been fogged by the controversial decision, the historian's use of

presentism, and many new theories that have come up in the past years. Therefore, Mr.

Frmicis Mitsuo Tomosawa, an American citizen and a witness to the bombing of

Hiroshima, serves as the perfect link to the truth behind the event, or the partial truth.

Ultimately, his interview reinforces what many historians have said about the decision to Doerr 82

drop the atomic bomb, but challenges the idea that the Japanese were extremely

aggressive throughout the war.

The interview allowed great insight and a new perspective. When first asked

about his childhood, Mr. Frmicis Mitsuo Tomosawa simply stated that living in Honolulu,

Hawaii was "mostly uneventful" and "peaceful," (Tomosawa 25). Nevertheless, he

pointed out that there was some discrimination against Asians in Hawaii; however it was

not as dominant as in the United States. Mr. Tomosawa went on to explain how almost

every Japanese family in Hawaii sent their children to Japan in order to receive a

firsthand education of Japanese culture; which is why he left for Japan in April 1941, at the age of eleven. After barely arriving in Hiroshima, Japmi and the United States were

engaged in a war. Mr. Tomosawa recalled his feelings when he said, "I felt as though my

father and mother were fighting," (Tomosawa 27). It was very difficult for him to

understand the circumstances, since he was a U.S. citizen but his parents were of

Japanese descent. Mr. Tomosawa also remembers being too young and not being able to

do miything about it, he "just had to go along with it," (Tomosawa 27). When asked

about Japanese aggression during the wm, Mr. Tomosawa replied that, "You need to look

at it from both sides," (Tomosawa 28). He believed that the United States cornered Japan

and pressured them, which caused Japan in retum, to strike back (Pearl Harbor).

However, Mr. Tomosawa understood that since he was in Japan, it was difficult for him to hear news from the United States, therefore if was most likely biased information he

was receiving. Mr. Tomosawa spoke briefly about the discrimination he faced in Japmi

for being a United States citizen. He was surprised that his Japanese friends and

neighbors were very friendly, unlike his Korean classmates who constantly "bullied" Doerr 83

him. Mr. Tomosawa addressed the discrimination the Japanese govemment also

expressed towards him and his fmnily. He remembered an instance when him and his

brother became sick, and since they were sick, his mother had to report it to his job (most

students from 7 grade and up were mobilized to work in factories and offices). After

reporting his absence, Mr. Tomosawa's mother received a visit from the military police.

They knew that his family was American, mid therefore became suspicious of possible

spy activity.

When asked about how he felt towards the bombing of Pearl Hmbor, Mr.

Tomosawa recalled feeling surprised and wondering "why did this war start?" and

"what's going on here?" (Tomosawa 32). He emphasized the idea that even though the

attack on Pearl Harbor was a poor decision by the Japanese govemment "one wrong

doesn't make a second right (Tomosawa 34)," and that it was not okay for the United

States to drop the atomic bomb. Nevertheless, he continued to spe^ ofthe harsh

conditions in Hiroshima, and the ration system that was in place. There was no rice, fish

or any meals of substance available for the people, instead they used "regular long grass" to make soup. They even ate dry bean remains that were used to feed cows. As the war

progressed, the conditions grew even worse mid finding food became dreadfully difficult.

On August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Mr.

Tomosawa remembered that "the sky was clear, and it felt so peaceful" that he

momentarily forget that they were at war (Tomosawa 35). He was lined up on an outdoor

field at work receiving a pep talk from a military officer, when he saw two B-29s fly over

once, mid come back again. That is when they dropped the bomb. He recollected the

scene ofthe explosion, the blast, the "brilliant flash of light," and the "mushroom cloud" Doerr 84

(Tomosawa 36). Mr. Tomosawa spoke ofthe thoughts going through his head following the dropping ofthe bomb, mid he vividly described the devastating scene. The city was

burnt to ashes, and resembled a "desert," according to Mr. Tomosawa (Tomosawa 41).

Following the bombing, Mr. Tomosawa helped in the local hospital, tending to victims

who were severely wounded and needed medical attention.

After experiencing the destruction as a result ofthe dropping ofthe atomic bomb,

Mr. Tomosawa strongly believed that the United States could have found an alternative

method to end the war. He stated that the Japanese were on the brink of surrendering mid

if the United States had simply set up a blockade, the Japanese would have had to give in

sooner or later. Mr. Tomosawa disagreed with the common theory that the dropping of the bomb would save thousands of American and Japanese soldiers, and instead, he

believed that the United States main purpose was to intimidate the Soviet Union in order to say, "You better watch out because we already have a bomb," (Tomosawa 47). Mr.

Tomosawa claimed that the citizens of Hiroshima were used as "guinea pigs" to allow the

United States to test the affect of an atomic bomb (Tomosawa 47). He also strongly

disagreed that Hiroshima was chosen as a target city because of its military bases. Mr.

Tomosawa revealed the fact that the factories he worked in were lacking weapons or miy

sort of resources, and that there was hmdly any kind of militmy material present.

When asked if the attack at Peml Harbor was avenged through the atomic

bombing of Hiroshima, Mr. Tomosawa stated that the United States had already avenged the attack at Pearl Harbor through their victories at Midway, and all the South Pacific

Islands. He related the actions ofthe United States towards Japmi to two people fighting. Doerr 85

and one person taking advantage ofthe more vulnerable one. He believed that the United

States was beating up Japmi when it was "already on the ground," (Tomosawa 52).

After the bombing of Hiroshima, Mr. Tomosawa applied to retum to the United

States since he was a U.S. citizen; however it took about three years for them to process

his application. Nevertheless, upon returning, Mr. Tomosawa sought to retum to school,

but was soon drafted for the Korean War, even though he "hated war." After returning

from the Korean War, Mr. Tomosawa completed his schooling, and in 1982 he was

invited by Senator Kennedy to attend a Sub-Committee Interim concerning the topic of

"nuclear freeze ." Mr. Tomosawa, along with several other survivors, testified his

experience for the first time ever. He expressed the fact that it was very difficult to recall the event since he had sheltered the memory for so long. But following the meeting, he

was able to open up and soon became the President ofthe Committee of Atomic Bomb

Survivors in the USA. His position allowed him to spread his message for peace by

stating that what happened to his friends and family in Japmi must never happen again.

By interviewing a direct witness of an event, historians and individuals are able to

understand a first hand account. Nevertheless, the information an interviewee conveys

may differ with mmiy views and common understandings of historians. Historian Gm

Alperovitz quotes President Truman when he said, "In the long run we could save a

quarter of a million young Americans from being killed, and would save an equal number

of Japmiese young men from being killed," (Truman Librmy). Alperovitz, nonetheless,

believed that President Truman's estimate was not realistic and a mainland invasion

would not have risked at least a quarter of a million lives. Mr. Tomosawa saw eye-to-eye

The "nuclear freeze" was a proposed agreement between the world's nuclear powers, primarily the United States and the Soviet Union, to freeze all production of new nuclear arms and to leave levels of nuclear armament where they currently were. Doerr 86

with historian Alperovitz's perspective, and disagreed with President Trummi's

statement. Mr. Tomosawa revealed the fact that many Americans believed that if the U.S.

was to follow through with a mainland invasion that all Japmiese civilimis would attack

as well. But he said "that's nonsense because we were taught to fight with a bamboo

spear" and thinking about it, no Japanese civilian would be able to fight a U.S. soldier

with a bamboo spear (Tomosawa 46). Nevertheless, since Mr. Tomosawa was only 15-

years-old at the time ofthe event, it was difficult for him to truly understand the

circumstances. The United States had experienced the relentlessness and persevermit

nature ofthe Japanese mmy through their battles at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and other South

Pacific Islands. They understood that a mainlmid invasion may exhaust U.S. troops mid

last for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, Mr. Tomosawa agreed with historian

Gar Alerpovitz's and believed that the dropping ofthe bomb was not necessmy.

Historimi Howard Zinn touches upon the issue of Hiroshima being chosen as a target when he quotes President Truman's statement: '"The world will note that the first

atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians,'" (Zinn 310). He

believes that the United States nmning Hiroshima as a "military base" was a false

pretense, and they targeted the city because of its high concentration in activities and

population. Mr. Tomosawa strongly agreed with Zinn's opinion because he stated that

from living in Hiroshima, he knew that there weren't mmiy soldiers located there. The

factories were "practically empty" and there was "hmdly any kind of militmy material there," (Tomosawa 49). He believed that the United States chose Hiroshima to cause

great devastation and observe the affects of an atomic bomb. Zinn also believed that the Doerr 87

bomb was dropped to create such devastation to the Japmiese people that they would be

forced to surrender. Nonetheless, Mr. Tomosawa stated that if the United States main

purpose was to bring destruction to the civilians of Hiroshima, they succeeded. If they

were aiming to hit a military base, then they failed. Therefore, Mr. Tomosawa's views

and perceptions do agree with those of Zinn.

Most historians, such as Edwin Hoyt, believed that the Japanese were the

aggressors and compelled the United States to take such drastic measures during the war.

Hoyt states that Japan was unrelenting and ruthless when it came to war, and it would be

very difficult to cause them to surrender since the "United States had gone to the top of the [Japmi's] list of enemies—and stayed there," (Hoyt 77). However, Mr. Tomosawa

believed that the Japanese were not the aggressors; but that the United States is the one that "pressured Japmi, pushed Japan against the wall, that Japan had no choice but to

strike back," (Tomosawa 28). He believed that it was like "cornering a cat," and due to the embargoes the United States set up against Japan, they had to react in some form or

another. Nevertheless, Japan deserved the blockade because ofthe atrocities and

aggression that they committed towards China. Their imperialistic motives and hostile

actions were threatening to the United States, and therefore they responded. However,

Japan returned the favor in a more brutal mminer, which then initiated a reaction by the

United States. Mr. Tomosawa's response to the topic of Japanese aggression was biased,

naturally because he was in Japan and was unable to hem any news from the United

States. He was affected by the actions ofthe United States, and therefore cannot take mi

impartial stance on this topic. Doerr 88

I believe that my interview with Mr. Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa allowed me to fill

in the gaps where historians are not able to do so. The interview permitted me to

understand the event on a more personal level, mid empathize with a survivor ofthe

event. Mr. Tomosawa enlightened me with several stories following the bombing of

Hiroshima. Through hearing the stories, I was able lo travel back to August 6, 1945 and

feel the same thoughts Mr. Tomosawa sensed at the time. One image has been embedded

within me from hearing Mr. Tomosawa recount his experience. He recalled walking

around the city after the bombing mid seeing victims ofthe bombing coming out ofthe

center of city. Mr. Tomosawa remembered them as zombies—emotionless—with their

arms held out in front ofthem. He recalled seeing a woman pushing a baby carriage with

all her clothes burned off, and skin hanging off of her harms. As he came closer, he

noticed that the baby in the carriage had a large wound in her cheek, with a piece of wood

sticking out. However, neither one made sound, not even a cry out of pain. Hearing Mr.

Tomosawa retell this story sent a pang of sadness through my heart and made me wonder

why a young woman and her baby must be victims of such a disastrous event? This made

me understand that poor decisions and actions made by the govemment of a country

leave the citizens ofthe country vulnerable to devastation mid disaster. Mr. Tomosawa,

along with the thousands of other victims was an innocent bystander caught in the midst

of a tragic event. My interview with Mr. Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa gave me the

opportunity to hem the story in a more intimate mminer, aside from the govemment

policies and theories of historimis. I was able to connect with him and truly understand the pain and hardship such an event caused. I doubt that miy textbook or historian could Doerr 89 evoke such emotion. The interview enabled the material to come alive through the stories

Mr. Tomosawa told and made it feel very real. Doerr 90

APPENDIX 1 Doerr 91

APPENDIX 2 Doerr 92

APPENDIX 3 Doerr 93

APPENDIX 4

Hospital staff was scarce, therefore civilians adhered to help treat the multitude of outpatients. Doerr 94

APPENDIX 5

This patient was exposed to the atomic bomb, and is being treated because glass fragments pierced his eyes. Doerr 95

APPENDIX 6

One ofthe effects of radiation was severe hair loss. Doerr 96

APPENDIX 7

Little Boy Doerr 97

APPENDIX 8

Scientists at Los Alamos, New Mexico Doeir 9S

APPENDIX 9

riT'

The Trinity Test Sile Doerr 99

APPENDIX 10

Fat Man Doerr 100

Remembering the building of the BOMB

B, Wadi W, l>Ji;|f — The CoDllal Samuel P. rMaaaie, a retired NavaJ Acadsmy chemistry pittteMW. wai part of the Manhatliiii Project, Ihe team D1 Bclentlsl4» soldiers and oChen who deveJQtfvd the atomic bomb. In 1943, he was askod to dovelop liquid compounds of uranium. HJs rosfl^rch proved a dead end, but other teams dl&cDv«rfld ths Isotopa that would be doronaled o^er Hiroshima 50 years afio. Doerr 101

APPENDIX 12

J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie R. Groves check the remains of a tower at ground zero ofthe first atomic explosion at the Trinity Site. Doerr 102

APPENDIX 13 Doerr 103

APPENDIX 14 Doerr 104 Doerr 105 Doerr 106 Doerr 107 Doerr 108 Doerr 109 Doerr no Doerr 111

Audio/Video Time Indexing Log

I. Interviewer: Leili Doerr

2: Interviewee: Frmicis Mitsuo Tomosawa

3. Date of interview: December 28, 2006

4. Location of Interview: Pamell ^ark and Community Senior Center, Whittier, CA

5. Recording format:

Audio type: Video Type:

Cassette X Cassette Micro-cassette Micro-cassette CD X CD Digital (DAT) Digital (DAT)

6. In roughly 5-minute intervals, summarize interview topics in the order they appear in the recording. Also note the tape # and tape side beginning with Tape 1, Side A.

Minute Mark Topics presented in order of discussion in recording TAPE 1, SIDE A 5 minute Japanese and United States aggression (World War II) 10 minute Discrimination by Japanese for being a U.S. Citizen 15 minute United States blockade in response to Sino-Japanese War 20 minute The explosion after the atomic bomb was dropped 25 minute Lack of medical aid in hospitals after the bombing 30 minute The scene ofthe completely destroyed city 35 minute Mother's injury as a result ofthe atomic bomb 40 minute Citizens of Japan taught to fight with bamboo spears 45 minute The number of lives saved by dropping ofthe bomb TAPE 1, SIDE B 50 minute Dropped the atomic bomb to avenge Pem^l Harbor 55 minute Danger of nuclear weapons Doerr 112

60 minute Applied to retum to the United States after the war ended 65 minute Speaking to different audiences about his experience 70 minute Discrimination towards Japmiese in the United States 75 minute Govemment denying A-Bomb survivors' aid 80 minute The current nuclear age and its present dangers 85 minute Comic book written by a survivor ofthe atomic bombing 90 minute Mass cremation of bodies took place throughout the city TAPE 2, SIDE A 95 minute The shadow of a man embedded on a building 100 minute Reading a poem written by an atomic bomb survivor 105 minute Wars arc a result of people becoming selfish Doerr 113

Works Consulted

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Alperovitz, Gar. The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.

Carr, Edward Hallett. "The Historimi and His Facts." Cooperative Individualism. Jmi. 2007. 20 Jan. 2007 .

"Chronology on Decision to Bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Nuclem Files. 7 Dec. 2006 .

Costello, John. The Pacific War. New York: Atlantic Communications, Inc., 1981.

Daniell, Raymond. "London Views Pact as Wmning to U.S." The New York Times 28 Sept. 1940. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. ProQuest Information mid Learning. 4 Feb. 2007 .

"The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb." Truman Presidential Library. 7 Dec. 2006 .

Drummond, Ruscoe. "Potsdam Made Bomb Decision." The Christian Science Monitor (Aug. 1945). ProQuest Historical Newspapers. ProQuest Information and Learning. 9 Dec. 2006 . Doerr 114

"Famous History Quotes." Uncover the Net. Jan. 2007. 20 Jan. 2007 .

Hoyt, Edwin P. Japan's Wm: The Great Pacific Conflict. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1986.

"Pearl Hmbor Day Finds Nation Sure of Japmi's Defeat." The New York Times (Dec. 1942). ProQuest Historical Newspapers. ProQuest Information mid Learning. 9 Dec. 2006 .

Prmige, Gordon W. Miracle at Midway. New York: Prmige Enterprises, Inc., 1982.

Rees, Laurence. Horror in the East: Japan and the Atrocities of World War II. London: Da Capo Press, 2001.

Rhodes, Richmd. The M^ing ofthe Atomic Bomb. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 1986.

Roehrs, Mark D., and Wilham A. Renzi. World War II in the Pacific. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004.

Sabrina, Crewe, and Dale Anderson. The Atom Bomb Project. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2005.

Schlesinger Jr., Arthur. The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998.

Spector, Ronald H. The American War with Japmi: Eagle Against the Sun. New York: The Free Press. 1985. Doerr 115

Van der Vat, Dmi. The Pacific Campaign: World War II The U.S.-Japanese Naval War 1941-1945. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991.

Ziff, John. The Bombing of Hiroshima. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001.

Zinn, Howard. A People's History ofthe United States. New York: The New Press, 1997. Doerr 116