Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the setting of the story?
What is the setting of the story?
Hiroshima, Japan, 8:15am Japanese Time, August 6, 1945 Monday
Who is Miss Toshiko Sasaki?
Who is Miss Toshiko Sasaki?
A clerk in the personnel department of the East Asia Tin Works.
What was Dr. Masakazu Fujii doing at the time of the bomb?
What was Dr. Masakazu Fujii doing at the time of the bomb?
He was settling down cross-legged to read the Osaka Asabi on the porch of his private hospital.
Who is Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura?
Who is Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura?
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What was Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge doing when the bomb was dropped?
What was Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge doing when the bomb was dropped?
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What was Dr. Terufumi Sasaki carrying at the time of the bomb?
What was Dr. Terufumi Sasaki carrying at the time of the bomb?
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Who was Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto?
Who was Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto?
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What does B-29 refer to?
What does B-29 refer to?
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What significant telegram did Mrs. Nakamura receive about her husband?
What significant telegram did Mrs. Nakamura receive about her husband?
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When did Mrs. Nakamura's husband die, and why was that day significant?
When did Mrs. Nakamura's husband die, and why was that day significant?
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What was the importance of the sewing machine for Mrs. Nakamura?
What was the importance of the sewing machine for Mrs. Nakamura?
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What happened to the guy at the end of the chapter?
What happened to the guy at the end of the chapter?
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Study Notes
Setting
- Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945, at 8:15 am.
- The city features a fan shape with seven estuarial rivers forming six islands.
Key Characters
- Miss Toshiko Sasaki: Clerk at East Asia Tin Works, just sat down at her desk when the bomb detonated.
- Dr. Masakazu Fujii: Settling down to read on the porch of his private hospital at the time of the bombing.
- Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura: A widow and tailor, observed neighbors demolishing their houses while standing by her kitchen window.
- Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge: German Jesuit priest, reading in his mission when the bomb struck.
- Dr. Terufumi Sasaki: Young surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital, carrying a blood specimen when the explosion occurred.
- Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto: Pastor of Hiroshima Methodist Church, loading a handcart when the bomb went off.
Bombing Details
- The bomb was dropped from a B-29 aircraft, with light traveling east to west.
- Residents close to the epicenter experienced no sound before the explosion, but a fisherman 20 miles away saw the flash and heard the blast.
Background and Family Life
- Mrs. Nakamura's Husband: Isawa, a soldier whose telegram announced his "honorable death" during the fall of Singapore.
- The sewing machine was crucial for Mrs. Nakamura's income, being the only source of money for her family.
- Dr. Fujii's hospital operated partly over tidal waters and faced patient overflow before the bombing.
Reactions and Immediate Consequences
- Reverend Tanimoto made efforts to move church belongings in anticipation of air raids.
- Miss Sasaki lost consciousness when a ceiling collapsed due to the blast, sustaining a broken leg.
Other Notable Points
- Father Kleinsorge, despite experiencing illness, continued his religious duties amid the chaos.
- Dr. Sasaki arrived at the hospital early and was the only doctor uninjured post-bombing, indicating his dedication to duty.
- A character mentioned at the chapter's end tragically committed suicide the day before by throwing himself under a train.
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Description
Explore the impactful events and key characters during the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945. This quiz covers the experiences of those who lived through the tragic moment when the atomic bomb was dropped, revealing their narratives and the historical significance of the day.
