Nagasaki survivors express support for UAE’s efforts against nuclear weapons

Residents of a nursing home for atomic bomb survivors said they hoped countries like the UAE would transmit their anti-nuclear message to the rest of the world.

Misano Hamada, 98, left, and Masako Omagari, 89, are among the survivors of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. Caline Malek / The National

NAGASAKI // Some of the last survivors of the 1945 atomic bomb attack on Japan expressed their support for countries such as the UAE that advocate the eradication of nuclear weapons.

Residents of Megumi no Oka, a nursing home for atomic bomb survivors in the city’s mountains, hope the message will be heard by the rest of the world.

“I support what countries like Japan and the others that are part of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative are doing in terms of trying to get rid of nuclear weapons,” said Misano Hamada, 98, who lived next to a shipyard less than six kilometres from the bomb’s hypocentre on August 9, 1945. “I will never forget what happened, it’s not possible.”

Twelve countries – the UAE, Canada, Japan, Australia, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Chile, Nigeria, the Philippines and the Netherlands – took part in the initiative which aims to create a nuclear weapon-free world. But countries such as the US, China, India and Pakistan still possess nuclear arms - a move that greatly upsets the Nagasaki survivors.

“We feel it’s vital to pass on and send out messages of the preciousness of human lives and call for peace and abolition of nuclear weapons,” said Akasako Yumiko, director of the nursing home, which was founded by a Catholic nun who was 1.3km from ground zero. “Since the day of the bomb, many people here have not forgotten about their lost family members.”

Misano, whose relatives all died in the bombing, said countries such as the UAE could make the world a safer place.

“I really want to see nuclear weapons being erased from the face of this planet and I hope they will,” she said. “We went through a lot of hardships and difficulties but I think I can have some hope, that’s why every morning and evening I pray for the world to become a better place.”

Masako Omagari, 89, was 3.2km from ground zero. She knows of the non-proliferation efforts of countries such as the UAE through newspapers.

“I fully support them and I really ask them to continue their support so that something like this never happens again.”

She hoped they would be able to get the message across to as many people as possible around the world.

“I work as hard as I can to speak about my testimony,” said Masako, who was 21 and a clerk in an electrical workshop at the time. “I survived because I managed to escape to an air raid shelter as soon as I saw the flash of light and felt the blast. I never thought anything like this would ever happen to Nagasaki.”

Although she remained in the shelter for two months, she was exposed to radiation and witnessed many deaths.

“I had hard feelings against Americans at the time but now my feelings have softened,” she said. “But I believe the current generation will never be able to understand our experience.”

Misano, who witnessed atrocities at a very young age, tried her best to continue living a normal life and prayed for world peace.

“Primary school children, whose ages were similar to ours when the bomb dropped, visit us,” she said. “It’s important for them to understand the dangers of nuclear weapons.”

The nursing home, which looks after 350 bomb survivors – the eldest turns 105 next week – opened in 1970.

They are the last generation of survivors and are adamant about telling their tale to younger generations through plays.

“The plays also give them a bit of physical exercise,” said Ms Yumiko. “They also allow them to convey their feelings as they were on site.”