Unearthing Memory: The Search for Hiroshima's Lost Souls on Ninoshima

When the first atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima 80 years ago, thousands of the injured and dying citizens were ferried to the small, rural island of Ninoshima. They arrived by military boats manned by crews originally trained for suicide missions.

Many of these victims, whose clothes had been burned off and whose flesh hung from their bodies, died in agony due to inadequate medical care. By August 25, as historical records indicate, only a few hundred survivors remained on the island and were buried hastily in various locations.

Efforts to locate and honor the remains of the missing continue to this day. Hiroshima University researcher Rebun Kayo has found approximately 100 bone fragments since 2018, including skull pieces and an infant's jawbone, deepening the community's awareness of history and the enduring impact of warfare.

(With inputs from agencies.)