A newly discovered firsthand account of the Hiroshima bombing and its aftermath from one of the survivors—bringing unprecedented immediacy to our understanding of this world-changing event. With thanks to Gerry for his review.
This book is a brilliant personal narrative, reminding us of the futility of war and the old adage “in war there are no winners or losers, just survivors”. To my eternal shame I had never heard of KIYOSHI TANIMOTO, now I will never forget him.
This singular memoir is both an invaluable addition to the historical record and an urgent eyewitness testimony of one of the most calamitous events to befall humanity. At a time when the threat of nuclear war still looms, Tanimoto’s message of peace, and his vision of a better path forward for humankind, is of vital importance.
About the Book
At approximately 8:15 on the morning of August 6, 1945, Kiyoshi Tanimoto was on the outskirts of Hiroshima when a flash in the sky signaled the birth of a horrifying new world. In an instant, tens of thousands of Hiroshima residents had been vaporized or crushed to death.
As Tanimoto, a thirty-six-year-old Methodist minister, raced back to the city center in search of his wife and infant daughter, he encountered unimaginable devastation: structures leveled; fires everywhere; uncountable injured suffering from burns, broken bones, and the effects of radiation. In the days, weeks, and months that followed this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, he invested body and soul in helping his living congregants obtain food, shelter, and medical care, as well as identifying and burying with as much dignity as possible those who had perished. He dedicated himself to rebuilding not only his church, but his city and his nation.
Tanimoto went on to gain renown as one of the survivors featured in John Hersey’s New Yorker piece and book, Hiroshima, which changed the American public’s understanding of the event. But Tanimoto also wrote his own story. Hiroshima, 8:15 is Tanimoto’s never-before-published firsthand account of the bombing of Hiroshima, written in the immediate aftermath, in his own words.
About The Author
Kiyoshi Tanimoto (Author)
Kiyoshi Tanimoto (1909-1986) was a Methodist minister from Hiroshima, who become known globally for his heroic actions in the aftermath of the atomic bomb of 1945. He was one of the six characters featured in John Hersey’s Hiroshima (1946) and dedicated his life to helping those impacted by the bomb for decades after, the most notable example being his support of the Hiroshima Maidens. He was married to Chisa Tanimoto, and they had five children, including Koko Kondo, the anti-nuclear peace activist.
Koko Tanimoto Kondo (Foreword By)
Koko Tanimoto Kondo was born in Hiroshima, Japan, and was just eight months old when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Her father, Kiyoshi Tanimoto, became globally known for his work helping victims of the bomb. She is now a prominent peace activist, and has campaigned against the use of nuclear weapons for most of her life. Through her work over the years, she has met with political and religious figures, including Pope Leo XIV, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and Pearl Buck.
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