Presentation about the experience of the atomic bomb explosion in Nagasaki.

Mr. Morita Hirosmitsu was one of the victims of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. His house was 1.8 km from the epicenter of the bombing. While walking home with his brother, he heard the sound of airplane engines behind him and saw parachutes falling overhead. Three older students approached and informed him that these were pumpkins sent to his house as part of wartime rations. As he watched the parachutes fall and entered his house, he was suddenly enveloped by a strong gust of wind and an orange light, like an electric spark. He was blown about 5 or 6 meters away and lost consciousness. He confessed that if he had taken just one more step, his life would have ended.

After gradually regaining consciousness and stepping outside, everything around him was burned to the ground. Mr. Morita witnessed the fate of those who had just been standing nearby. His older brother was burned over half his body. Of the three older students, one suffered burns and trauma all over his body and died on the spot; another was burned over half his body. The urn containing the ashes of another brother who died on July 31, 1945, was also gone. He and his family had to flee to the mountains for refuge.

Along the way, he witnessed horrific, hellish scenes at Gosha Park, where the cries of those suffering from burns and thirst echoed. When his family reached the mountaintop and returned to the park at dusk, these people had perished. Although taken to the infirmary, those with severe burns could not be saved. In the evening, looking down from Gosha Shrine, the streets of Nagasaki were ablaze in a sea of ​​red flames. In 1979, a memorial was erected to commemorate the victims who died at Gosha Park. Similar scenes also occurred in front of Nagasaki Station, where trucks and tricycles constantly transported the foul-smelling corpses. Sanitation workers had to use sticks and gasoline to dispose of the bodies. It is estimated that about 20,000 bodies were cremated in front of Nagasaki Station. Morita was only 10 years old at the time. Those scenes still haunt him to this day.

Besides those killed in the explosion, radiation also left short-term and long-term consequences. Mr. Morita shared that a 28-year-old man named T (whose real name is withheld), standing 1 km from the explosion's epicenter, had a piece of radioactive glass embedded in his back. After a week, Mr. T's hair fell out, and small purple spots appeared on his body; he died on September 13th. Another man, named Y, who worked at a weapons factory 1.8 km from the explosion's epicenter, did not suffer direct consequences from the explosion, but due to exposure to contaminated water, he also died on August 29th with similar symptoms. Mr. Morita himself and his relatives also frequently experience ailments such as joint pain, dizziness, and physical exhaustion. As one of the rare survivors, he expressed gratitude for life and strong criticism of nuclear weapons. He hoped that with the determination of the people, the Japanese government would soon sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which other countries had ratified on July 7, 2017, in New York, USA.

A student from the Department of Oriental Studies asked Mr. Morita a question.

Following the presentation, on behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector) expressed his gratitude to Mr. Morita and the National Peace Memorial Museum for their dedication to the victims of the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing. The Vice Rector hoped that this event would help students better understand the brutality of war, so that they could work together to build and preserve peace in the world. Mr. Morita also received comments and feedback from the university's students regarding the empathy between the people of Vietnam and Japan, both having experienced devastating wars; activities to raise awareness about the harmful effects of nuclear weapons; and the connection between atomic bomb victims in Japan and Agent Orange victims in Vietnam.

Associate Professor Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his gratitude to Mr. Morita and the Japanese partners.

Students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities take a commemorative photo with Mr. Morita Hirosmitsu.