Newly Published Hiroshima Memoir Reveals Survivor’s Search for Family After Atomic Bombing

“‘Everywhere there were injured people calling for help, yet I could only keep moving in the hope of finding my family alive.’”

A newly published memoir by Hiroshima survivor Kiyoshi Tanimoto offers a detailed first-hand account of the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, describing the destruction of the city, the struggle to reach his family and the profound moral conflict he experienced while passing countless injured people unable to be rescued.

The memoir, recently brought to public attention, documents Tanimoto’s experiences on Aug. 6, 1945, when the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb used in warfare over Hiroshima during the final stages of the Second World War. His testimony provides a personal perspective on one of history’s most devastating wartime events and illustrates the humanitarian consequences of the bombing through the observations of a civilian survivor.

According to Tanimoto’s account, many residents did not initially understand what had happened. He wrote that most people neither saw nor heard the aircraft responsible for the attack and instead recalled witnessing an intense flash of light before suddenly losing consciousness or finding themselves buried beneath collapsed buildings.

Tanimoto recounts the experience of the parents of one member of his church, who were waiting at Yokogawa Station, approximately two kilometres from the hypocentre, when they noticed a B-29 bomber and a descending parachute. Before they could comprehend what they had seen, both lost consciousness. When they recovered, they found themselves burned, their clothing destroyed and surrounding buildings flattened.

As Tanimoto travelled through Hiroshima in search of his wife, infant daughter and neighbours, he described neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. Buildings near the centre of the explosion had collapsed completely, while cries for help could be heard from beneath the debris.

Serving as the civil defence coordinator for his neighbourhood and responsible for approximately 120 residents, Tanimoto wrote that he faced an agonising decision. Although he stopped repeatedly to assist trapped survivors, he realised that he lacked the strength and equipment needed to rescue those buried beneath collapsed structures. Conscious that his own family might also be trapped, he continued his journey while apologising aloud to those he was forced to leave behind.

Throughout the route, he encountered increasing numbers of severely injured people lying in streets and open spaces after becoming unable to continue walking. He recalled removing and throwing away his hat while expressing feelings of guilt that he had escaped major physical injury when so many others had suffered devastating burns and wounds.

His determination to reach his family eventually brought him to the Ota River after fires blocked his usual route through the city. With no bridge accessible, Tanimoto entered the river despite being exhausted from running for nearly an hour.

The crossing nearly proved fatal. He described struggling against the current, swallowing water and believing he was close to drowning. During the attempt, he removed his shoes, coat and gaiters to remain afloat before eventually reaching shallow water on the opposite bank.

After recovering briefly, Tanimoto continued toward the Ushita district, where he found widespread destruction but few remaining residents. He stopped at the home of his church treasurer only to discover it had also been destroyed before continuing his search.

The search ended unexpectedly when he encountered his wife, Hatsue, carrying their infant daughter, Koko, among a line of evacuees. He recalled recognising her despite bloodstained clothing, dishevelled hair and the physical effects of the bombing.

According to his wife’s account, she had returned home shortly before the explosion and was speaking with a neighbour, Mrs Takaki, when the building collapsed. Trapped beneath heavy debris while holding her baby, she struggled to breathe and briefly lost consciousness before being revived by her daughter’s cries.

She eventually discovered a small opening above her, gradually enlarging it despite falling debris striking her head. After creating enough space, she pushed her infant through the opening before freeing herself from the collapsed structure. By then, nearby houses had caught fire and smoke was spreading rapidly through the neighbourhood.

Unable to return to rescue her neighbour because of the advancing flames and while carrying her child, she fled toward the Sentei gardens, later joining other survivors evacuating the devastated city.

Tanimoto also wrote candidly about his emotional response upon finding his family alive. Rather than experiencing immediate relief, he described feelings of guilt and moral conflict, questioning why his own family had survived while a church member visiting their home had apparently perished.

His memoir reflects not only the physical devastation caused by the atomic bombing but also the psychological burden carried by many survivors, including feelings of responsibility, grief and survivor’s guilt that continued long after the immediate disaster.

The account forms part of the historical record documenting civilian experiences during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, offering historians and readers a detailed eyewitness narrative of the destruction, rescue efforts and personal dilemmas that unfolded in the hours following one of the defining events of the Second World War.