Julian-san
3 March 2001 | ||
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| My colleague and (temporary tourist guide) Hasegawa-san's seven-year old daughter Hiromi drew this fantastic drawing of me... I particularly love the interpretation of my pathetic beard ;-) The Katakana on the top says 'Julian-san' | ||
Mother unable to save her child trapper under the building
18 May 2003 | ||
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| In 1975 a project began to let some survivors that were still deeply troubled by what they had seen release their memories in the form of drawings. These are some of them. Mother unable to save her child trapper under the building Shigeru Miyoshi (40 at time of bombing, 70 at time of drawing) 'If she were alive now, she would be a woman of 35 or 36. "Hiroko, don't give up, be strong. Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu." Hiroko.... Only her head stuck out from under the fallen ceiling. A girl of 5 or 6.' |
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Cremating my Old Child
18 May 2003 | ||
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| Cremating my Old Child Tamaki Ishifuro (35 at time of bombing, 65 at time of drawing) I cremated my oldest daughter Naoko (3). The tears flowed without stopping. 'You go first, I'll follow you!' I joined my hands in prayer. My second son Tatumi (9) was still missing. I prayed that he had fled safely somewhere. As she burned, the oil in her body gradually flowed out. A huge amount, what a healthy child! So piteous. I couldn't stand to watch, I thought I would go crazy. How could this be the real world? It was hell.... I have continued to live for 30 years feeling guilty towards my two dead children. Forgive me, I didn't keep my promise, a parent's responsibility. (I didn't have the courage). |
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All the School Students died as they stood in line
18 May 2003 | ||
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| All the School Students died as they stood in line Tojo Sera (43 at time of bombing, 73 at time of drawing) The Children at Ote Machi Elementary School were standing in line for morning assembly. Every one of them was knocked over and burned to black char. |
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A girl who died while asking for water near Tsurumi Bridge
18 May 2003 | ||
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| A girl who died while asking for water near Tsurumi Bridge Kazuo Matsumuro (32 at time of bombing, 62 at time of drawing) When I passed near her, she feebly asked for water. 'Don't give up, soldiers will be here soon' I said encouragingly, as I walked on by. When I saw her 20 minutes later, she was dead. Nearby stood a soldier whose face was half bandaged. Lots of body tags hung from his waist. |
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Watching a young mother flee with a dead child in her arms
18 May 2003 | ||
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| Watching a young mother flee with a dead child in her arms, I began to cry Hiroshi Yoshii(25 at time of bombing, 55 at time of drawing) Amidst crowds of people burned to tatters and fleeing desperately, a young woman came along carrying something important. Looking carefully, I saw it was a lifeless baby that looked like a large piece of meat. The face was such a hideous sight I couldn't look at it twice. But as I watched her fleeing in desperation yet carrying that baby's body, I was blinded by my tears. I saw the embodiment of motherly love, a tragic scene beyond any you might see in paintings of hell. That sight remains etched deep in my mind's eye even after 30 years. |
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A Mother who burned up trying to shelter her two children
18 May 2003 | ||
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| A Mother who burned up trying to shelter her two children Kazuo Akiyama (34 at time of bombing, 64 at time of drawing) A mother and her two children had been swallowed by the flames they were trying to flee. She had dropped forward on the ground, pulling them beneath her and that is how they died. The children's fingers had dug deeply into their mother's skin. |
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Two little girls fanned their seriously wounded mother
18 May 2003 | ||
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| Two little girls fanned their seriously wounded mother Hiroshi Shindo (33 at time of bombing, 64 at time of drawing) Two little girls, one about five and the other about three fanned their seriously wounded mother. |
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lilajsouth america / Thursday, 28th September 2006 | ||
well done! very LOVELY! | ||
JereenHonolulu, HI / Saturday, 6th August 2005 | ||
If there is anytime, that time is now! Looking at these drawings I ried thinking of how cruel and thoughtless humanity can be. I can only hope and pray that history doesn't repeat it-self. Such large amounts of loss but nothing gained, I pray and hope that humanity will surpass technology, and that LOVE will conquer all. | ||
DaveWenatchee, WA / Wednesday, 26th November 2003 | ||
Only the dead know the end to war... | ||
hinasydney / Sunday, 27th July 2003 | ||
its great julian san! | ||
About this page | Contact Me at photodiary (at) gmail.com | Last Updated: 19 June 2008 - ©2007 Julian Pye