Conclusion

The connection between the filmmaking staff and the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki did not end with the completion of the film in 1946. To reproduce the film, Ryuichi Kano sought to track down all documents related to the confiscated film. To study conditions soon after the A-bombing and prior to those captured on film, Hidetsugu Aihara turned to still photos of the damage. Driving these men on in these efforts was their determination that people learn about what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They wanted to make sure that knowledge of the horrendous devastation inflicted by the A-bomb would be passed on to future generations.

The year the film was returned from America, 1967, was marked by nuclear weapons proliferation and a succession of nuclear weapons tests. Even today, massive arsenals of nuclear weapons remain, along with the risk that they will be used.

This A-bomb documentary film still plays a crucial role in presenting the tragedy of the A-bomb. Learning about the realities shown in the film and the efforts of those who fought to provide us with this information should inspire all of us to continue conveying Hiroshima’s message.