Michihiko Hachiya

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Michihiko Hachiya (蜂谷道彦, Hachiya Michihiko^?, 1903 in Okayama Prefecture - 1980) was a Japanese medical practitioner who survived the Hiroshima bombing in 1945 and kept a diary of his experience. He was Director of the Hiroshima Communications Hospital and lived near the hospital, about a mile from the explosion's centre. His diary was published in 1955, under the name of Hiroshima Diary.

During, and post bombing life

He described the effects of the atomic bomb blast from its first flash in the early morning as he rested from his night shift as an air warden at the hospital. The force of the blast stripped all the clothes from his body but he and his wife survived, however they both received serious burns to their body and must journey to hospital Michihiko (his wife) works at. When Michihiko returned to the hospital that he works in, the Hiroshima Communications Hospital, he spends the night in the care of the hospital staff who were not seriously injured. After his injuries heal Michihiko starts making his daily rounds that he would have normally made as a doctor. The staff and patients at the hospital deem the atomic bomb that hit their city, pikadon. Pika describes a flash of light and don describes an explosive sound. As time passes an understanding of what hit their city clears up, and historical events such as the surrender of Japan are brought up. The condition of the hospital also drastically improves as more medical supplies are brought into the city, allowing them to better treat patients.

References

• Michihiko Hachiya, Hiroshima Diary (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1955). ISBN 0-8078-4547-7