Responses to Human Crises Revealed in The Rite by Hiroko Takenishi

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a turning point in WWII. They led to the surrender of the Japanese and the victory to the Allies. The day that the Japanese surrendered will forever be remembered. However, the destruction and casualties in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki cannot be forgotten. Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced massive destruction, and it led to years of disease and misery for the Japanese people following the war. After WWII and the creation of the atomic bomb, the world lived in fear of a nuclear attack ("The Atomic Bombings"). George Orwell’s 1984 references to the atomic bomb and to the society and life after WWII. Nevertheless, one must fully know and understand the bombings and the destruction

Have you ever questioned why and how the US government decided to drop those two nuclear bombs in Japan in the World War II? It is still a universal concern while many disapproval have made toward its humanity. In a book that I’ve read recently, from the point of view of an eyewitness, Yamaoka Michiko, the author of story “Eight hundred meters from the Hypocenter”, shows how humanity was exchanged with the ambition of a nation by reviving a heartbroken experience when she witnessed her hometown was destroyed by such a terrific violence in the war.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were calamitous airstrikes that left thousands of people perished and with brutal trauma. In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, the government produced mini air strikes to induce terror into the citizen’s mind allowing the government to feed off that terror. Furthermore, the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and 1984 have segments of divergence and parallel structures.

The non-fiction book Hiroshima by John Hersey is an engaging text with a powerful message in it. The book is a biographical text about lives of six people Miss Sasaki, Dr. Fujii, Mrs. Nakamura, Father Kleinsorge, Dr. Sasaki and Rev. Tanimoto in Hiroshima, Japan and how their lives completely changed at 8:15 on the 6th of August 1945 by the dropping of the first atomic bomb. The author, John Hersey, through his use of descriptive language the in book Hiroshima exposes the many horrors of a nuclear attack.

“We have to protect our Earth, so our children and grandchildren will never suffer like that,’ she said. And she looked ahead. ‘Maybe nuclear weapons won’t be abolished while I’m alive,’ she said. ‘But I will never give up.” (Hanley, NBC News). August 6, 1945 at 8:16 in the morning, the United States dropped the world's first atomic bomb on thousands of unsuspecting people in Hiroshima, Japan. Not only did this catastrophic event kill thousands of civilians, but it also resulted in other nations obtaining and learning how to create these deadly weapons, weapons that we still have today. In the book Hiroshima by John Hersey he gives readers a new look at that day, through the eyes of six victims who survived the horrific attack on Hiroshima, he shows how the entire city of Hiroshima suffered, and were left alone to fend for themselves.The book Hiroshima by John Hersey, sheds light on the immense dangers of nuclear warfare, and the government's responsibility for its people, affected by a war they aren’t fighting in.

Mr. Tanimoto consciously repeated to himself “‘These are human beings’”(Hersey 1946), as he attempted to save paralyzed, dying men and women, in the book “Hiroshima” by John Hersey. This nonfiction book was published on August 31 1946, a year after the atomic bombing fell on Hiroshima, Japan. This publication was raw, uncensored, and truthful. John Hersey unapologetically revealed the gruesome damages done by the bombing, while also silencing those who believed that the atomic bomb was a justified attack. Hersey’s brilliant journalism and ability to write this story without bias, is why this book was selected. The author did not want those who died to be remembered as casualties, but as mothers, fathers and children. Hersey wrote this book about the the physical, and psychological impact this bomb had on both survivors and victims of the atomic bomb. There were many historical events that contributed to the cause and effect of the atomic attack; historical events such as industrialization, the trench wars, and militarism. This was not just a simple bomb, but a complex attack on humanity.

Before John Hersey’s novel, Hiroshima, Americans viewed Japanese as cruel and heartless people. This warped perspective caused the majority of American citizens to feel complacent about the use of the atomic bomb against civilians. Americans, in many ways, were blinded by their own ignorance to notice the severity of the destruction suffered by not only the city of Hiroshima but, more importantly, the people who lived there. The six testimonies in Hiroshima illustrate the strength and optimistic attitude of the Japanese people. In this essay, I will discuss the feelings towards the ethics surrounding the use of the atomic bomb, next I will look at two testimonies and how their lives

Hiroshima is an outstanding recreation of the complete annihilation and devastation of during the aftermath and the year following the United States’ dropping of the atomic bomb. As the war in the east carried on, many thought this desolated war might last a lifetime, all the while hoping for an end and praying it not mean their own end. To end the war, Americans had to pick a target that would leave the Japanese government with nowhere to retreat, allowing for a crippling effect that would essentially cause their collapse and surrender. In his writings, John Hersey proclaims that Hiroshima was a “… inviting target - mainly because it had been one of the most important military command and communications centres in Japan …” (HERSEY, P. 107). In the minds of American strategists, this must have seemed a flawless method to force the Japanese military into a corner, not allowing withdrawal without laying down of arms. There was surely no doubt that dropping this bomb of god-like destructive power would, at a minimum, tear into the souls of Japanese, causing catastrophic devastation.

The Japanese people are stoic patriotic people. They did come together as a community to assist each other but they suffered through their pain alone. They did not look for sympathy or a shoulder to cry on. Mr. Tanimoto wrote in a letter describing how some Japanese died without yelling out for help. He wrote, “They died in silence with no grudge, setting their teeth to bear it. All for the country (Hersey, p. 69)!” They were proud people for their country and didn’t want to appear weak. Mr. Tanimoto also wrote in his letter, “Look, I lost my home, my family, and at last bitterly injured. But now I have got my mind to dedicate what I have and to complete the war for our country’s sake (Hersey, p. 69).” Hersey also informs us of thirteen year old girls singing their national anthem while being crushed to death. Not concerned about their well-being but for the love of their beloved country. To know that you’re going to die yet sing something that means so much to you shows heroism. It is as if the thirteen year old girls died for

By focusing on three generations instead of any particular generation, Kurosawa creates a medium to which multiple groups of people can relate. As time passes, and as fewer and fewer people have experienced August 9, 1945 directly, Kurosawa reminds everyone that the bomb continues to affect people to this day. Kane’s grandchildren are an example of how to remain thoughtful about the bomb and its consequences while not experiencing it firsthand, while Kane’s children are an example of how not to treat the topic of the bomb and its consequences. Ultimately, Kurosawa wants to emphasize that the Japanese should not have to throw away their history in order to survive. Only in doing so can one begin to accept and reflect on the events of the

What started as a “warm and beautiful” (1) summer day in Hiroshima, resulted in an attack that changed the lives of many. Dr. Hachiya was resting in his home when there were sudden large flashes of light, followed by rumblings of his house, which soon thereafter collapsed following the escape of him and his wife. Post-bombing, Hachiya and his wife found refuge at the Hiroshima Communications Hospital, Hachiya’s place of employment. This hospital is the setting for the duration of the journal. The journal focuses on the aftermath of the bombing, and Hachiya’s daily life. His daily life included the medical services he provided to those that were affected, this comprised of his colleagues, family, friends, and strangers. The diary recounts Michihiko Hachiya’s personal experience from August 6th, 1945 to September 30th, 1945, in a diary format going in chronological

In the article "Napier Apocalyptic Identity" the author point out an important point of view why Japan's apocalyptic is so common. In WWII is one of the most well-known event in the history. Not to mention, the whole world know Japan is the only country in the world to have suffered from the atomic bomb whch led Japan in a disastrous way. The Japanese people will always remember this catstrophic and being terrify to it. This let audience realize what Japan have gone through and why Apocalyptic genre in Japan is popular and be created the way it is. Japan tried to demonstrated the experienced they gone through and how apocalyptic can affects the people psychology and mind sets. Furthermore, Japan is a island that encounter many disastrous event

Katsuji, Yoshida, the man who was the victim of Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s nuclear weapon attack was going through a difficult phase. Even when it was not his fault, he was being treated differently; he

Go back in time. Imagine yourself walking in the streets of Hiroshima. Eating breakfast, walking to school, riding the train to work. You’re squinting your eyes looking at the sun and you think to yourself “I’m going to have a wonderful day.” You suddenly see a bright flash. It’s so hot you just disintegrate. You just disappear from the world. Not even a single trace of you. 8:15, August 6, 1945 was a day so terrifying, a day so horrifying the people’s stories will be in our hearts forever.

Though Hiroshima 's bombing was a terrible disaster, it undoubtedly brought the Japanese community together. The terror was undeniable, yet through the destruction people sacrificed themselves to save others. In the novel Hiroshima, written by John Hersey, even though many of the main characters are injured, they still stop to help others. The acknowledgement of others pain and suffering and developing empathy and sympathy for them, having the strength to give up your desires for a moment, having respect for yourself and others are qualities of humans that compel them to help others even if there is nothing to gain. It is only when we put faith in ourselves and others that we truly help others.