Over the summer, we had the greatest opportunity to meet a fine gentleman, Mr. Ota on July 2022, which was almost 77 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima City, and coincidentally, his birthday. However, unlike most people, Mr. Ota didn’t celebrate his birthdays with cute party balloons and fancy birthday cakes. Instead, he expressed great regret and sadness for this day. With much pain in his voice, he sighed, “Since I was 16 years old, every year on my birthday I would feel so guilty and remorseful. I am currently 93 years old.” Completely enthralled with his mysterious yet sorrowful statement, we listened to his story. 

Mr. Ota is an honorary Hibakusha who survived the horrific atomic bombing in Hiroshima. August was supposed to be a day filled with great joy and happiness but instead, unwanted horror. For his early birthday, his three dearest friends had prepared a surprise party. However, because the war was ongoing, the celebration was nothing fancy - just pure thoughtfulness and kindness. Nonetheless, Mr. Ota was thrilled and ready to enjoy the best day of his life…until it turned into an unimaginable tragedy. As he casually walked out of his school ready to celebrate with his friends, a huge explosion radiated the entire city. In what was less than a millisecond, Mr. Ota and his friends were blasted by the bright pika light. Mr. Ota bled intensively, and pain overspread his body till the point he was completely numb. One of his friends was covered with hellish burns that ate his body to ash. The other friend was disfigured to the point he was unrecognizable. His remaining friend’s last words to him were “Omae Yokatta Ne” (I am so glad you are okay). 

During that moment he had to watch his friends, who were so dear to him, die in front of his eyes, in a state where he could do nothing about it. Mr. Ota to this day feels the guilt of living while his best friends died. August 6th is always a dark hole in his heart. For this reason, he really dislikes celebrating his birthday because it reminds him of this inhumane tragedy. He looked at us with much pain in his eyes, and stated, “Please promise me and make a world where no more sorrow and sadnesses like my own.”