Sending off the Dead

The injured died one after the next. Starting with the day of the bombing, disposal of bodies continued until the emergency field hospital was closed. Any nametags affixed to the dead were collected along with locks of hair and belongings. These were placed in envelopes with the victims' names on them and set aside for safekeeping. The bodies were piled up in and around the grounds of the quarantine station, but there were too many to cremate. Many were carried into bomb shelters dug into cliffs and buried. The most seriously injured died without revealing their names; thousands were never identified.

25 Corpses covered with straw mats just before being taken away Drawing and text / Miyae Kageyama August 6, 1945, Ninoshima Quarantine Station The soldiers could not keep up with the bodies needing to be taken away. In the meantime they covered the dead with straw mats. The soldiers would make a large pile of bodies and pour oil them. Lighting the fire ignited a sea of flame. When I think of human beings ending their lives this way, all I can do is shed tears and put my hands together in prayer." Excerpt from the memoir "My Experience"

26 Soldiers carrying bodies away from the pier Drawing and text / Masako Ishifuro August 7, 1945, about 10:00 a.m., Ninoshima Quarantine Station Looking toward the dock, I saw large boats coming in filled with dead. They put them on stretchers and carried them on their shoulders behind a ridge. When I tried to follow, I was told, 'No entry.' I shed tears and put my hands together in prayer." Excerpt from her memoir

27 Cremation of unknown numbers of dead Drawing and text / Kazumi Takeda August 8, 1945, Ninoshima Quarantine Station "A large trench was dug near the ward. The dead were piled into it, covered with oil and ignited. The smoke billowed high into the sky. Many were unidentified. The terrible odor lasted for days." Excerpt from his memoir

	28 Grave marker with "1000-Person Mound" written in India ink Photo / Shunkichi Kikuchi Courtesy / Tokuko Kikuchi October 17, 1945, Aza Majidomari, Ninoshima-cho This mound was by the sea in Majidomari near the Horse Quarantine Station. About August 25, 1945, the marker was placed there by quarantine staff during a memorial service. In those days, burial sites were everywhere.

Victims who died on Ninoshima

29 Hiroaki Hori 30 Junior high student's shorts Donated by Teruto Hori Approx. 1,200 m from the hypocenter Zakoba-cho (now, Kokutaiji-machi) Hiroaki Hori (then, 13), a first-year student at First Hiroshima Prefectural Junior High School, was exposed to the A-bomb as a mobilized student demolishing buildings. He was taken to Ninoshima. He wandered among the injured groaning students shouting, "Are there any First Junior students here?" Hiroaki was burned, blistered and utterly unrecognizable. His own father identified him only by the name on these shorts.	31 Takae Yagyu 32 Pieces of monpe (workpants) Donated by Ikue Fukuda Approx. 1,200 m from the hypocenter, Zakoba-cho (now, Kokutaiji-machi) Takae Yagyu (then, 13), a second-grader at Yamanaka Girls High School attached to Hiroshima Women's Higher School of Education, was exposed at her student mobilization building demolition work site. Her mother, Hisako, found Takae on the 12th on Ninoshima Island. Takae's face was swollen large, and only tatters of her singed clothing still clung to her body. She died on the morning of the 14th. These pieces of the monpe were burned onto Takae's body and had to be cut off. The family kept them in her memory.
33 Masakazu Okitsu 34　Student corps badge Donated by Toshiko Yamada Approx. 600 m from the hypocenter, Nakajima-shin-machi (now, Nakajima-cho) Masakazu Okitsu (then, 12), a first-grader at Second Hiroshima Prefectural Junior High School, was exposed at his student mobilization building demolition work site. One month after the bombing, City Hall turned over to them the remains and belongings of their son, who had been cremated on Ninoshima. Their last sight of him was that morning when he waved cheerily and said, "Bye, see you later."	35 Satoshi Yamane 36　Trousers Donated by Otosaku Yamane Approx. 500 m from the hypocenter, Zaimoku-cho (now, Nakajima-cho) Satoru Yamane, (then, 13), a first-year student in Hiroshima Municipal Shipbuilding Technical School, was exposed demolishing buildings as a mobilized student. When evening came, Satoru was taken to Ninoshima. His elder brother,Toru nursed him devotedly, but Satoru died at 6:00 a.m. on the 7th. They kept the trousers that Toru brought home as a keepsake.
37 Mitsuzen Onishi 38　Letter Donated by Yoshio Onishi Mitsuzen Onishi (then, 42), head priest at Anrakuin Temple, was exposed while bicycling toward Hijiyama Hill. His remains and belongings were sent home to his family.	39 Setsuko Ogawa 40　Dress and monpe jacket Donated by Ritsu Ogawa Approx. 790 m from the hypocenter, Moto-machi Setsuko Ogawa (then, 21) was exposed outdoors near her workplace, the Chugoku Military District Headquarters. She was taken to Ninoshima. Setsuko died on the 11th.
41 Shigeo Nabeshima 42 Pocket watch Donated by Shiyako Nabeshima Approx. 1,100 m from the hypocenter, Kako-machi Shigeo Nabeshima (then, 37) joined the Hiroshima District Defense Corps and began working at a building demolition site in Kako-machi on August 1. On the 6th, he was exposed to the A-bomb at his worksite and went missing.	43 Noboru Nagaoka 44 Disaster Certificate Donated by Taeko Fujita Noboru Nagaoka (then, 37) was exposed around Ote-machi 8-chome, approximately 1,100 meters from the hypocenter. Noboru died on August 20. Yuki

Ninoshima and the Atomic Bombing Island of Final Rest 　Military City Hiroshima and the Ninoshima Quarantine Station 　Atomic Bombing 　Relief Activities Immediately after the Bombing 　Ninoshima Overflowing with Injured 　Anguished Voices Calling for Water; Family Members Searching for Loved Ones 　Sending off the Dead 　The Closing of the Emergency Field Hospital, then the Quarantine Station 　A-bomb Orphans 　Ninoshima of the Sleeping Dead 　Conclusion 　Return to TOP