The Narrow Escape from the Hakushima Train right as the A-Bomb was Dropped
It's no use trying to cross Tokiwa Bridge, as the Shrine and its surroundings went up in flames. The Shukkeien Garden was being blown around in a whirlwind. Many people passed away while standing on the bridge. Before this, a tall tree standing in front of Shukkeien Garden had burned to the ground, but was pushed back into place by force by the strength of some soldiers. However, at this point we had given up all hope, and walked along the Hakushima train tracks back to where we had come from. The train I had escaped from was on fire, and the conductor's charred body could be seen.
After the war, the train had still remained in the same exact spot as I had last seen it, fleeing the site during the war. As of October of 1996, according to the passenger records of that train, I am the sole survivor.
- Drawing / Setsuko Yamamoto (14 at the time of the bombing, 43 when she drew this picture)
Approx. 1,300m from the hypocenter, Hakushima Line in front of Shukkeien Garden (Kami-nagarekawa-cho now, Nobori-cho)
August 6, 1945, immediately after the bombing
