Meet Michiko Kono, a survivor of the atomic bomb, who shares her story with Vatican News 79 years after the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
By Francesca Merlo
Michiko was just a four-month-old baby on August 6, 1945, when the US B-29 fighter plane dropped the devastating atomic bomb, known as “Little Boy,” on her hometown of Hiroshima.
As fate would have it, Michiko and her parents were at Hiroshima station that morning, with her mother changing her diaper on a wooden bench. The bomb was detonated just 2km away, killing 80,000 people instantly. Michiko survived unscathed thanks to the wooden bench shielding her from the heat, while her parents suffered severe burns. Sadly, her grandmother lost her husband back at their house 1.6km away.
Despite having no memory of the event, Michiko has dedicated her life as a survivor to spreading a message of peace and hope to younger generations, in line with Pope Francis’ stance against atomic weapons.
Having recently visited the annual Tonalestate International Summer University in Italy, focused on the theme of conquering time, Michiko believes in influential leaders advocating for peace and hope.
Legacy of Hope
Mrs. Kono now volunteers at the Hiroshima Peace Museum, which opened ten years after the bombing. It took her courage 40 years to enter the museum, realizing her duty as a survivor to share her story in 2001. She acknowledges the tragic consequences of the bomb, with 350,000 residents initially, of which 140,000 perished by the end of the year.
Sharing Stories
Michiko became part of the legacy successor system at the museum in 2005, learning from survivors like Mitsuo Kodamo, who battled the effects of radiation until his death at age 66. She now travels worldwide, telling stories like his to honor their memory.
Looking Forward
Reflecting on the post-war years in Japan when information on the atomic bomb was restricted, Michiko believes it’s crucial for people to educate themselves on the horrors of nuclear weapons for a peaceful world.
She urges young people to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to witness the devastation firsthand and advocate for the end of nuclear weapons. According to Michiko, spreading awareness is essential for a brighter future of peace and hope.
