Japanese Art: Descriptions of Hiroshima

1. Japanese Art: Descriptions of Hiroshima • All these images come from a museum in Japan. • It tells their side of the story. • Read descriptions on every picture. • As you view the following slides, take notes on the works of art that you find the most compelling. • Pick ONE and in a brief 3 paragraph essay explain why you picked it? (Intro w/thesis, body and conclusion)

2. When evaluating art think about… Visual elements Meaning Message or theme Symbolism History/story behind it • Color • Shape • Size or Prominence of objects • Lines • Depth of focus • Quality (clear vs. blurry) • Style (realism vs. abstract)

3. The Big Mushroom Cloud that Shined Brilliant Silver in the Sun during Midsummer • August 6th, 1945 at 8:15 a.m. • About three seconds after a blinding flash of light, a thunderous roar came down from the other side of the mountain. A big mushroom cloud could be seen growing, glinting brilliant silver under the sun. At the age of 8 years old at the time, I witnessed this from about 30 km north from the hypocenter, from Kake-cho, Yamagata-gun in Hiroshima prefecture.

4. The River flooded with Corpses, People Drenched in Blood Fleeing Kohei-Bashi Bridge Many dead bodies are floating in the river. The red portions are dyed with blood. Injured soldiers who are slowly walking in pairs, swaggering back and forth. Female students who transport the deceased. Drawing (Collaboration) / Harumi Nakagiri (29 at the time of the bombing, 59 when she drew this picture)Shinko Ishibashi (6 at the time of the bombing, 36 when she drew this picture) Approx. 2,360m from the hypocenter, near Kohei Bridge August 6, 1945, Around 10 a.m.

5. An Orange colored Sun On August 6th of 1945, at 8:13 a.m., loud screams could be heard with the emotions that were overwhelming everyone. Looking up, the orange color of the sun, along with the sound of the plane overhead, as I covered my head a huge BANG came, and the entire barracks was blown away, many people losing consciousness as a result. From behind a window sill, the hell that was the reality in front of me, was being taken in by my eyes, accompanied with the groans of its victims. Drawing / Eiichi Uchida (20 at the time of the bombing, 50 when he drew this picture)Approx. 500m from the hypocenter, Hiroshima First Army Hospital (Motomachi)August 6,1945, 8:13 a.m.

6. There was Nothing we Could Do Hearing the screaming voice of a woman, I looked in the direction from which the voice was coming from to see someone waving both hands and crying for help from the second floor window of a house. It seemed she was pinned under a beam and couldn’t move, but there was another cry for help coming from the floor below. However, by this time, the house was already going up in flames, and there was nothing I could do to help. Being burned alive; what a terrible fate. To think that such a hell-like world could exist on earth… Drawing / Kan-ichi Ito (40 at the time of the bombing, 69 when he drew this picture)Approx. 1,400m from the hypocenter, Takanobashi (Ootemachi-cho)August 6,1945, About 8:25 a.m.

7. The Survivor being Transported by Truck Drawing / Kazuhiro Ishizu (37 at the time of the bombing, 65 when he drew this picture)Approx. 1,900m from the hypocenter, near Hiroshima Station (Matsubara-cho)August 6, 1945

8. The Dead Bodies Piled up in the Cistern The Black Burnt Corpse of a Woman Clinging to Her Baby Because I was at school, I was separated from my parents at the time of the bombing. The next morning, on the 7th, I left at 7 a.m. to cross over the mountains and return to the remains of my house that had been burned down. There were hardly any human shadows to be seen on the burnt area in front of my eyes. The first time I had seen a burnt corpse was this day, when I saw them piled high within a cistern in my hometown. It was then, that I saw 40-50 U.S. soldiers on the street and witnessed this strange something that made me cringe. When I looked closer, I realized that the corpse of a woman who had been holding a baby was standing upright on one foot, looking as if she had been running! I wonder, who exactly was this person? This atrocious vision still remains clear in my mind to this day. Drawing / Yasuko Yamagata (17 at the time of the bombing, 46 when she drew this picture)Approx. 1,200 m from the hypocenter, in front of Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station, Kaminagarekawa-choAugust 7, 1945, around 8:00 a.m.

9. The Countless Number of Piled Corpses and the Bodies that Flow Down the River The people walking by Hamabashi bridge are walking towards the immobilization centers. Even here, the casualties were being treated. Drawing (Collaboration) / Shinko Ishibashi (6 at the time of the bombing, 29 when she drew this picture)Harumi Nakagiri (35 at the time of the bombing, 58 when she drew this picture)Approx. 2,320m from the hypocenter, near Kouhei-Bridge (ushita)August 16, 1945

10. The Funeral of the Students who Suffered the A-Bomb Drawing / Sumie Nakata (33 at the time of the bombing, 63 when she drew this picture) Place / Satoh-chouAugust 9, 1945

11. Praying for the Safety of the Second Son, after Cremating the Eldest Sister The eldest daughter, Naoko (3 years old) is burned and alone. She cries and cries and the tears don't stop: "I'll go too. Go first and wait for me there,"she would say with both hands together in prayer. The second son, Katsumi (9 years old) was also missing. I pray that he was able to escape to a safe place. As I continue to burn, I notice that fluids are starting to leave my body. This is really a lot of blood. I have to keep my energy, as I don't want anyone feeling bad for me. I feel like I'm starting to go crazy. I can't believe this is actually happening. This must be hell…I've lived the past 30 years of my life repeatedly apologizing to the other two who lost their lives while I lived on. Drawing / Tamaki Ishifuro (35 at the time of the bombing, 65 when he drew this picture)August 7, 1945

12. The Survivors Taking Refuge in the Camps Everyone, in a burned state, was only half alive. There were also many who died. Straw was arranged between the planks of wood in the classrooms, on top of which we would sleep. As more and more people came and tried to sleep on the straw mats, they would look around restlessly to see if their younger brothers had arrived yet. They would get up and walk over people with serious burns, careful not to step on peoples' hands and feet. My mind was not in its right place at the time. I think about how much of a wonder it was, that I was able to walk around this scene of carnage. Drawing / Fumie Ishikawa (16 at the time of the bombing, 46 when she drew this picture)Approx. 3,050m from the hypocenter, In a schoolroom of Koi Elementary Schoo (Koi-machi, now, Koiue-2choume)August 7, 1945

13. With their Entire Body Suffering from Burns, the Hundreds of People who got Mercurochrome Treatment On August 6th, hundreds of people went to Takasu Hospital seeking medical treatment. Those who had burns covering their entire bodies were treated with Mercurochrome. Drawing / Satoru Yoshimoto (13 at the time of the bombing, 41 when he drew this picture)Place / Takasu Hospital August 6, 1945

14. Two Children who Blow Wind on the Critically Injured Mother at the Honkawa Elementary School The two children, around three and five years old, blow wind on their mother who is in critical condition. Drawing / Hiroshi Shindo (33 at the time of the bombing, 62 when he drew this picture)Approx. 430m from the hypocenter, Honkawa Elementary School(Honkawa-cho, Naka-ku)August 10, 1945

15. Cremating the Dead on the Riverbed Drawing / Yoshihisa Yokoyama (32 at the time of the bombing, 62 when he drew this picture)

16. Using a Curtain in the Place of a Bandage There was thought to be a 1,000 people taking shelter along the river, who were in a half-dead state. A few days later, the corpses that were flowing in the river were practically linked together. When it was high tide, blue color of the water reflected off the bodies; during low tide, the red shine from the sun reflected off the corpses in the river. Having seen this, word spread that red and blue demons were in existence on this earth. We used red and white curtains in the place of bandages, treated our burns with cooking oil, and rolled up the reserved rice and made rice balls out of them. Drawing / Wakai Kiyoshi (39 at the time of the bombing, 68 when he drew this picture)Approx. 2,000 m from the hypocenter, near Hiroshima Technical High School (Senda-machi)August 6, 1945, afternoon

17. The Tragedy on the Bridge This tragedy on the bridge seen from the west side of Funairi Saiwai-cho town. Depicts people trying to escape the burning bridge by jumping into the river and drowning. Drawing / YoshieMichida (32 at the time of the bombing, 62 when she drew this picture) Approx. 1,390m from the hypocenter, Sumiyoshi-BridgeAugust 6, 1945

18. The Drifting Bodies Drawing / Chizuko Sasaki (20 at the time of the bombing, 50 when she drew this picture)Approx. 1,300m from the hypocenter, Back of Shukkeien Garden August 6, 1945, Around 10:00 a.m.

19. A Woman whose Skin Dangles With their skin turned red, everyone seemed to walk like ghosts, with both hands reached out in front of them. Their skin, like the skin of potatoes would stop at their nails and start to dangle from there. Drawing / Kazuo Matsumuro (32 at the time of the bombing, 61 when he drew this picture)Approx. 1,300m from the hypocenter, YagemboriAugust 6, 1945

20. People Searching for help in the Rivers; Those who were Seeking Water The clothes of the people who received a direct hit from the bomb were burnt to crisps, and their skin was just like the skin of potatoes when you boil them. Their bodies, ears, and hands would dangle; hair was as if they were just wearing hats; faces shining red with wide eyes; bright red lips; the skin on the back had peeled clean off; blood dripping from their tainted red bodies. Their ultimate death getting nearer with every passing minute, they were searching for water to satisfy their thirst. Once they got water, they would guzzle it down with all their might, and as they felt relieved, would take their last breath. Drawing / Chie Harada (18 at the time of the bombing, 47 when she drew this picture)Approx. 1,550m from the hypocenter / near Tokiwa-Bridge – August 6, 1945, Around 9:30 a.m.

21. The People who took refuge at Shukkeien Garden and Black Rain The black rain that showers over the shelter where many casualties are resting. The village on the other side of the shore is engulfed in flames. Drawing / JitsutoChakibara (31 at the time of the bombing, 60 when she drew this picture)Approx. 1,300m from the hypocenter, ShukkeienGarden,Kami-nagarekawa-cho (now, Nobori-cho)

22. A Critically Injured Man who Demanded Water from Me A woman who despite having received serious injuries, clings onto someone who is walking in search of water. Drawing / Sayoko Yamazaki (23 at the time of the bombing, 53 when she drew this picture)Approx. 3,600m from the hypocenter, near Eba-choAugust 6, 1945, Around 2:00 p.m.

23. All information found at: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/BPW/english/index.htm http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.html

24. Additional Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bq-DWznQ9Y • Hiroshima – 5 minute video of the effects and what happened to make it so bad. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i_j-E5jO4o&NR=1 • Surrender of Japan – actual footage – 4 minutes