Mitsuhiro says the carp are a proud symbol of their town's rebirth. Michiko Yamauka had cosmetic surgery 27 times because she was embarrassed by her burn scars. She finally came to believe she had a duty to talk about the A-bomb. Some Hibaksha tell grizzly A-bomb stories eagerly.
The word “Hiroshima” may bring to mind a black-and-white image of a mushroom cloud. It’s easy to forget that it’s an actual city with a million people and a popular baseball team. In 1995, John Biewen visited the city to speak with survivors and to ask: What did the world’s first atomic bombing mean in the place where it happened?
Hearing Hiroshima is a production of Minnesota Public Radio, from American Public Media.
Photo: Selections from the 1995 tapes. Photo by John Biewen.