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M. G. Sheftall, "Nagasaki: The Last Witnesses" (Penguin Random House, 2025)

Oct 1, 2025
M. G. Sheftall, a historian and professor, discusses his compelling work, 'Nagasaki: The Last Witnesses.' He shares harrowing survivor testimonies from hibakusha, shedding light on life before and after the atomic bomb. The conversation delves into the ethical dilemmas of interviewing survivors and contrasts the experiences of hibakusha with American pilots. Sheftall emphasizes the unique identity of Nagasaki, the role of faith in recovery, and the importance of memory in understanding nuclear history. He concludes with a powerful message against the use of nuclear weapons.
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INSIGHT

What 'Last Witnesses' Means

  • Sheftall defines “last witnesses” as survivors who were 12 or older at the time, able to provide detailed narrative memories.
  • He prioritized granular recollections (times, places, daily routines) to preserve irreplaceable firsthand context.
ANECDOTE

The Atomic Bowl On Ruins

  • Sheftall recounts the Atomic Bowl played on bulldozed rubble at Matsuyama-cho near Nagasaki ground zero.
  • He describes Americans steamrolling bones and debris and survivors' failed attempts to warn occupation forces.
INSIGHT

Context Is Essential For Foreign Readers

  • Sheftall aimed to provide cultural context missing from many English translations of Japanese survivor accounts.
  • He expanded prewar daily life, family structure, and social norms to make memories intelligible to non-Japanese readers.
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