Hiroshima Survivors Tell Tales of the Atomic Bomb They Want the World to Remember

Ogura established Hiroshima Interpreters for Peace in 1984 to translate survivors’ stories, including her own.

“In the beginning, it was really painful to remember those days,” she said at a recent online briefing.

“But I wanted young Americans to know what their country had done. I have no intention to blame them, but just want them to know the facts, and think.”

It was 40 years after the war before she felt comfortable telling her stories.

“What we suffered the most was a sense of guilt as we kept wondering why we could not save the many people who died before our eyes.”

But now she has also found solace by telling her story.

Visitors are scarce this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Still, she will organize a live virtual tour of the peace memorial on the anniversary of the bombing Thursday.

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Michiko Kodama, 82

The external scars from the atomic bombing have faded, but Michiko Kodama says her heart hasn't healed.