by Paul Ham
School
Today in our first lesson hour Tsukiji Sensei taught us how to use a triangular bandage to wrap the head, ears, eyes and chin. I was on tenterhooks because I thought that we might have a history test, but to my relief we didn’t.
Home
The warning siren sounded today, so I came home on the 2.20pm ferry. By the time I did my homework, revision and prepared for tomorrow’s classes, it was 5pm. So I had dinner, wrote my diary and went to bed.
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Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 2 hours Chores: prepared dinner
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17 July (Tue) Weather: rainy
School
Today the Year 8 students were finally mobilised to work in military supply factories. We Year 7 students stood at the school gate and clapped as they left. I nearly started crying.
All of a sudden I felt lonely, as it occurred to me that from today we Year 7 students will be the only ones left at school. But I decided that this means we must do a great job holding the fort while everyone else is away.
Home
I came home on the 3.16pm ferry. Today’s household management homework was to tidy just one room by myself and to make a note of the size of that room and the order in which each cleaning task was performed. So I tidied my study room and measured its dimensions.
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Woke up: 5.30am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
18 July (Wed) Weather: fine
School
Today I noticed that because only the Year 7 students are left, the playground seems strangely bigger than before. Because the Year 8 students are gone, we also have more cleaning duties. We must do an even better job from now on.
Home
The warning siren sounded at the end of our fourth lesson hour, so I left school straight away and came home on the 2.20pm ferry. Mother went to Hiroshima today so I felt sort of drained when I got home.
This pen has a large nib and leaks. The nib of my last pen broke.
* * *
Woke up: 4.30am Went to bed: 10pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
19 July (Thu) Weather: fine
School
Mother left home early today, so we caught the 5.20am ferry to school together. It made me realise that I far prefer leaving home early in the morning and arriving at school early to leaving home late and arriving at school late.
Home
I finished lunch and headed to the public health centre to have my blood type checked, but the warning siren sounded the very moment I passed out of the school gate. It was too bad! So I came home on the 2.20pm ferry.
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Woke up: 4.30am Went to bed: 10pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
20 July (Fri) Weather: cloudy with occasional rain
Today I heard that we will all be moved to different classes tomorrow. It is sad to think that we will be split up, having become such good friends. But Japan is at war and so I know that now is not the time to fret about small things. No matter how lonely I am, I must keep my spirits up and work hard.
Home
I took the 4.02pm ferry home. Today we ate peaches and green peas, which were absolutely delicious. But then I remembered Father fighting in the war and felt guilty knowing that he and his comrades probably wouldn’t have anything as delicious to eat as the meal I had just enjoyed.
* * *
Woke up: 5am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
21 July (Sat) Weather: rainy then fine
Today in our first lesson hour we were all moved to different classes. Even though I felt really sad parting with my new friends, I bade them farewell cheerfully.
Then at 9.30am I headed to the public health centre to have my blood type checked. It hurt a little but I found out that I am type A.
Home
On the way home, I stopped by the house of my grandmother who lives in Takasu. I was glad I went to see her, because she was so happy to see me. I took the 6.30pm ferry home.
* * *
Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
22 July (Sun) Weather: fine
School
Today was a home training day.
Home
I woke up early this morning but went to bed again because I had a headache and 39.5-degree fever.
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Woke up: 5.30am Went to bed: 6pm Study: none Chores: none
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23 July (Mon) Weather: fine
School
I didn’t go to school today because I had a fever.
Home
I really wanted to go to school today but I couldn’t because I had a fever.
* * *
Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 8pm Study: none Chores: none
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24 July (Tue) Weather: fine
School
I didn’t go to school today because there was an air raid. The warning siren didn’t go off until 10am. Then it started again in the afternoon and continued for quite a long time.
Home
An air raid started when I got on the ferry this morning, so the ferry was cancelled. I went home and waited for the warning siren to go off. When it finally went off and I decided to go to school, the air raid started again. The warning siren didn’t go off until ten so I didn’t go to school today.
It makes me so mad to think that the enemy prevented us from having classes, even if it was just for one day!
* * *
Woke up: 5.20am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
25 July (Wed) Weather: fine
School
I didn’t go to school today because, just like yesterday, there was an air raid.
Home
I couldn’t go to school today because, of course, just like yesterday, there was an air raid. Today was the day of the Itsukushima Shrine Kangensai Festival. It is usually a very lively festival, but this year it wasn’t lively at all. It was just a lonely, lonely festival with no street stalls.
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Woke up: 5.25am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
Itsukushima Shrine Kangensai Festival
Every year, Miyajima Island holds a beautiful music festival, featuring a waterborne stage formed out of boats. The boats are draped in colourful curtains and linked with lanterns. It is a ceremony on the sea. The audience watches aboard their own boats or from the shore. The performances climax at midnight with the return of the boats to shore, including one carrying the deity of the shrine. Up until the end of the war, the festival was held in July. It is now held in August. The festival dates back to the Heian era (eighth to twelfth century), and celebrates the deity of the shrine.
In Yoko’s time, the ceremony was much the same as today. Local musicians performed on traditional Japanese instruments – flutes, stringed instruments and drums. One boat staged traditional Japanese Noh theatre. Yet there was one big difference. Instead of food and shopping stalls offering a feast of local produce, in 1945 there was virtually no food for sale – just rice and potatoes. That year the Kangensai Festival was a drab affair. It would have been a sad reminder to Yoko of the war all around her.
– Paul Ham
26 July (Thu) Weather: cloudy with a little rain then fine
School
Today we had a physical science test. We had to write about something we would like to conduct an experiment on, so I wrote about lightshades.
Home
On the way home, I visited my grandmother who lives in Takasu, and by coincidence I ran into my older brother, Kohji, at the ferry terminal. He has returned from Kyushu, so he came to our house. I am so happy because he will be commuting to the Hiroshima Post and Telecommunications Bureau from our house, so things will be quite lively at home from now on.
* * *
Woke up: 5.10am Went to bed: 10pm Study: 1 hour 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
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27 July (Fri) Weather: fine
School
Today we had a music lesson with Nagahashi Sensei. We practised singing songs. It was fun, just like Tsukiji Sensei’s classes. I heard that Nagahashi Sensei also taught my mother when she was a student at Yamanaka Girls’ High School. I never imagined that Nagahashi Sensei was so old!
Home
Today, I visited my grandmother who lives in Takasu again. Kohji bought fish yesterday, so I invited her to our house for dinner.
Things are quite lively at home now because we have one more person staying with us. I’m so happy!
* * *
Woke up: 5.15am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
28 July (Sat) Weather: fine
School
I couldn’t go to school today because there was an air raid.
Home
Today, just like on the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, some small airplanes attacked Hiroshima. It was so scary watching those horrid airplanes fly over Miyajima.
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Woke up: 5.15am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
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29 July (Sun) Weather: fine then cloudy
School
Today was a home training day.
Home
Today I visited my relatives living in Inokuchi. After I had walked for quite a while my legs felt unbearably tired. They gave me some peaches, so I brought them home.
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Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
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30 July (Mon) Weather: cloudy then fine then cloudy again
School
Today I went to school but an air-raid siren sounded just as we were having morning assembly, so we all went home. When I reached Koi, the siren went off so I went back to school and had classes.
Today we farewelled Nishino Sensei and Tsuji Sensei.
Home
I came home on the 3.16pm ferry. I was terribly thirsty, so as soon as the ferry docked I raced home and drank some water. It tasted wonderful!
* * *
Woke up: 5.15am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
31 July (Tue) Weather: cloudy
School
I stayed at school late and did dressmaking today because I fell behind making my summer uniform while I was away doing farm work in Yoshiwa. I was glad that I had only a small amount left to do. It is finally finished!
Today, Yoko Nishino left to attend a school in Yamaguchi Prefecture. I feel sad because I will miss her. Take care, Nishinosan!
Home
Because I stayed at school until late, I got to the ferry terminal later than usual and caught the 6.32pm ferry home.
Everyone was waiting for me when I arrived, and we all had fun eating dinner together.
But my heart goes out to the people of Tokyo, where so many have lost parents or children and are now all alone.
* * *
Woke up: 5.10am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
August
1 August (Wed) Weather: cloudy
School
Today it suddenly struck me: ‘It’s 1 August. Summer is really here now.’ As it was the first day of the month, I visited the Gokoku Shrine for Fallen War Heroes. After that, I was in a much better mood and felt refreshed and clear-headed.
Home
I’m so happy that my work trousers are finished. I’m so happy I simply can’t say the words ‘I’m happy’ enough! We are going to sew some gym clothes next, and I’m going to be careful not to fall behind this time.
* * *
Woke up: 4.30am Went to bed: 10.30pm Study: 1 hour 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
2 August (Thu) Weather: cloudy
School
I felt very ashamed today because I was late to school, even though Tsukiji Sensei had a word with me yesterday about being late.
I caught the suburban train early so that I would get to school on time but I couldn’t get on a city train. All the way there I was thinking, ‘I must hurry!’ but I ended up being late anyway.
Home
* * *
Woke up: 4.50am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour 30 minutes Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
Today as I wrote my diary I remembered the diaries Tsukiji Sensei read to us. They were reflective in tone and beautifully written. I would really like to be able to write like that, so I will keep trying.
3 August (Fri) Weather: fine
School
Today we visited the Kenjo agricultural plot in Takeyacho. The plot hadn’t been very well tended, so a lot of grass had grown up. Everyone worked hard to remove the grass, so the black soil was gleaming in next to no time. Then we turned the soil over again and ploughed most of it.
It was hot, sweaty work, but I felt really good after I had finished.
Home
* * *
Woke up: 4.40am Went to bed: 10pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
Today I felt a little tired but who cares about that. The senior girls are working so hard in places all over Hiroshima, so how can I complain about being tired? We are going to the agricultural plot again tomorrow and I am going to work hard.
4 August (Sat) Weather: fine
School
Today we worked at the agricultural plot again. It was just as hot as yesterday but I put up with the heat and worked as hard as I could.
Home
On the way home, the wind blew my hat into the sea at the jetty. It hovered before my eyes for a brief moment but I couldn’t catch it. When I think of Mother going to all the trouble of buying that hat for me … it is just too bad! I am really upset about it.
* * *
Woke up: 5am Went to bed: 9.30pm Study: 1 hour Chores: prepared dinner
* * *
5 August (Sun) Weather: fine
School
Today was a home training day.
Home
Today was the day of working at home.
Yesterday my uncle came and so the house was very lively. I wish every day would be like that. From tomorrow morning we are joining the home demolition groups. I am going to do my best.
This day marks the end of Yoko’s diary. On 6 August, Yoko bore the full brunt of the atomic bomb blast when she was working outdoors in the Dobashi area, about 700 metres from the hypocentre. That evening, she died in a relief centre, 10 kilometres away.
Our father, Ataru Moriwaki, learned of Yoko’s death the following year after he was repatriated from China. Years later, in place of his daughter, he wrote the following entry in Yoko’s diary for 6 August.
– Kohji Hosokawa
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Woke up: 6am Went to bed: 9pm Study: 1 hour 30 minutes Chores: prepared meals
* * *
6 August (Mon) Weather: fine
Sweet Yoko,
Father lost the war and came home to find you gone. I miss you terribly, so I am going to write the final entry in the diary you kept each day while you waited for me to return.
Full of a sense of your responsibilities as class captain, you set out on the first ferry of the day to do labour service demolishing houses in the Dobashi area, so that Japan could win the war.
At 8.15 in the morning, you bore the full brunt of that terrible atomic blast. Covered in severe burns, you were carried to Kannon Village National School in Saeki District, with your teacher, Mitsuya Sensei.
You waited anxiously for Mother and Father to arrive but we never came. Finally, you drew your last lonely breath at 11.24 that evening, uttering the words, ‘Isn’t Mother here yet?’ You were all alone.
The one small comfort you enjoyed was
the tender care of Dr Awase and Hatsue Ueda, who nursed you.
Yoko, may your spirit rest in peace.
Mother and I sing this song which I wrote while thinking of you as I waited at an internment facility in Shanghai for the repatriation boat. We dedicate it to you, our beloved daughter, who is waiting for us far away.
Beloved Daughter
1.
In Momijidani Park of the island I know well
Your sweet eyes once danced to see the deer.
In the two years you and Mother were alone
You played the melodies I taught you
Softly striking the keys with your fingers.
2.
In the lonely land where Father lives
At the other side of this long stretch of time