A survivor’s tale: The story of Sadao Hirano
On the morning of August 6, 1945, 12-year-old Sadao Hirano, a student at Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial School, was heading to morning assembly. He and his classmates had been mobilized to help create firebreaks in the city.
Moments from the Hypocentre
As he approached the assembly platform, a blinding orange flash engulfed him. The atomic bomb had been dropped. Just 2 km from the hypocenter, he felt his body sizzle. Dust, darkness, and debris overwhelmed him.
Escape to Hijiyama Hill
The blast left classmates with swollen lips and shredded clothes. Hirano and two others fled to Hijiyama Hill. Air-raid shelters were overflowing, and cries of pain echoed around them. A soldier used a dagger to cut a blister on his leg.
Home, but burnt
That evening, Hirano reached his home in Funakoshi-cho. Burnt and in agony, his skin had turned black and stuck together. His mother, Chieko, used scissors to cut away fused skin, tending to his wounds with sake, oil, and cucumber juice.
Wounds, and war ruins
Unconscious for days, Hirano suffered deep wounds infested with maggots. Two months later, school resumed amid ruins. Still healing, he bled frequently while carrying wood through the scorched remains of Hiroshima.
Resilience and recovery
Despite this trauma, Hirano completed school and joined Hiroshima Credit Union at 18. Stares at his keloids saddened him, but he began to speak about his atomic bomb experience openly.
Breaking the silence
After retirement, and facing health issues, he questioned if he’d die without telling his story. Another bomb survivor encouraged him to speak out, and he did.
The testimonies
Sadao Hirano has now shared his story 234 times with students and children worldwide. Once ashamed of his scars, he now reveals them, urging younger generations: “We don’t need any atomic bomb. There shouldn’t be war.”
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