Hiroshima Summary

On the fateful day of August 6, 1945, a devastating bomb was unleashed upon the city of Hiroshima by the American military, leading to the annihilation of nearly 100,000 people and severe injuries to an additional 100,000, out of a total population of 250,000. The narrative follows the aftermath of this catastrophic event through the experiences of six survivors, including two medical practitioners, two women, and two religious figures, from the moment of impact until several months later. Forty years after the bomb, the continuing effects on the lives of these six survivors are explored.

Among the survivors is Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto, an American-educated Methodist pastor and community leader, who miraculously escapes unharmed. As the city is engulfed by fire, he aids in evacuating people to a small park on the city's edge. Assisting him in his efforts is Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, a Jesuit priest. Despite battling his own ailments, he offers consolation to the wounded and provides water to those in need. In the absence of any official aid, these individuals step in to protect the helpless, like Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura and her children, from the ensuing fires, whirlwinds, and rising river water.

A young clerk named Miss Toshiko Sasaki sustains a fractured leg from the explosion, which develops a severe infection due to the lack of medical assistance in the weeks that follow. The bomb resulted in the death of more than half the doctors in Hiroshima and rendered the rest incapable of helping others, with the exception of Dr. Terufumi Sasaki, the only uninjured doctor at the Red Cross Hospital. He dedicates himself to his duties, attempting to minimize the death toll in the aftermath of the explosion. As Hiroshima starts to recover following Japan's surrender, a new threat emerges in the form of radiation sickness, causing symptoms like nausea, fever, anemia and hair loss. The perplexing illness affects many including Father Kleinsorge who never fully recovers. Despite these hardships, the survivors attempt to regain semblance of their normal lives. Years later, Father Kleinsorge and Dr. Fujii succumb to sudden illnesses. On a positive note, Mrs. Nakamura and Miss Sasaki manage to overcome their challenges and find happiness and success. Mrs. Nakamura enjoys a comfortable life with her pension and government allowance, while Miss Sasaki becomes a nun. Dr. Sasaki and Mr. Tanimoto dedicate their lives to aiding others, with the latter playing a significant role in assisting victims of the bomb who require plastic surgery due to severe burns. Despite becoming a minor celebrity in America, his attempts to convey a message of peace during a phase of nuclear escalation are not entirely successful. The narrative concludes with the revelation that the impacts of the nuclear warfare are far from over, posing a continuous threat to the world. However, the survivors exhibit remarkable characteristics of goodwill, reconciliation, and pride in the face of adversity.