English translation of Aug. 6 entry

This is English translation of my August 6 entry.

* * * * *
Eighty years ago, on August 6, the first atomic bomb in human history was dropped.

Over a hundred thousand lives were taken in Hiroshima.

Today is August 6.

And on this day, I am reminded of a story from my youth.

When I was in high school, I studied abroad in the United States for one year through AFS program.

I often spoke at community events, as I was “an exchange student from Japan”.

After each speech, people would ask questions.

Some were lighthearted:

“What’s your favorite American food?”

When I once answered, “Rice,” the room burst into laughter.

But there were other questions as well.

“What do you think of HIROSHIMA, the atomic bombing?”

I told them—

The horror of the atomic bomb is not only in the instant destruction,

not only in the hundred thousand lives taken in a flash,

but also in what comes after.

For the survivors, the risk of leukemia and other cancers rises for years to come.

For those exposed while still in the womb, disabilities could appear later in life.

And almost always, the response from the audience was the same:

“I never knew that.”

And I realized something.

We Japanese must do more to share the truth—

the full truth—

about the horror and the cruelty of the atomic bomb.