Eikei University Hosts Special IEP Lecture by Keiko Ogura, Atomic Bomb Survivor and Storyteller

We hosted a special IEP lecture by inviting Keiko Ogura, an atomic bomb survivor and storyteller.

On May 6, 2026, as part of the Intensive English Program (IEP) class taught by Professor Yuko Uesugi, we held a special lecture by inviting Keiko Ogura, an atomic bomb survivor and storyteller. This marks the fourth time Ms. Ogura has been invited to our university. Under the title "The Beginning and End of the War I Experienced—Radio and School Were My Everything," Ms. Ogura, who was exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, spoke in English about her childhood experiences, her path to becoming an interpreter, and her strong desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Her account of the realities of the bombing and her message of peace entrusted to the next generation deeply resonated with the audience.

■ The Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Experienced at Age 8

Ms. Ogura experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, when she was 8 years old. She felt a flash of light near her home, away from the city center, and was blown away by the blast wave, losing consciousness.
The elementary school she attended at the time was within a 1km radius of the hypocenter, and she notes it is highly likely she would have lost her life had she not transferred schools. Her father's premonition that "it would be better not to go to school today" ultimately saved her life.

When she regained consciousness, it was dark all around, and she returned home relying on her younger brother's crying. By the next morning, the city of Hiroshima was completely destroyed. Near her home, she witnessed a thatched-roof farmhouse naturally ignite and burst into flames due to the heat rays. In addition, "black rain" containing radiation fell even in areas far from the hypocenter, causing many people to suffer from health issues.

Her father, she said, cremated more than 700 victims in a vacant lot near their home starting the day after the bombing.

■ Devastation Around the Hypocenter and Secondary Damage

In the city center, many students mobilized for building demolition work were exposed to the bomb, and at her older brother's school, about 300 younger students and first-year students were completely wiped out.
Her brother had witnessed something being dropped from a B-29, but because he did not look directly at the flash, he avoided losing his eyesight.

People fleeing from the hypocenter were walking toward Hiroshima Station in a pitiful state, with the skin peeling off their faces. The harsh reality was also shared that those who survived carried deep feelings of guilt because they could not save those trapped under collapsed houses.

■ Her Path as an Interpreter

Ms. Ogura was a full-time homemaker until the age of 41, but the sudden passing of her husband, who served as the director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, prompted her to pursue a path as an interpreter.
She was asked to interpret for Robert Jungk, the author of a book her husband had helped research, and began using English again for the first time in 20 years at the age of 42. In her first job, she did not know the word for "nuclear power plant" and had to be helped by the audience, but she expanded her vocabulary through self-study and continued learning by comparing books like John Hersey's "Hiroshima." Afterward, she gained experience as an interpreter while teaching English at the YMCA.

■ Encounters While Confronting Nuclear Weapons

Ms. Ogura introduced her experiences of meeting the grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the grandson of President Harry S. Truman. She spoke frankly about how she initially held feelings of hatred toward Truman's grandson, wondering "why they dropped the atomic bomb on the city."

She also mentioned being shocked during a dialogue with a scientist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, when the scientist said, "I feel responsible for discovering that an airburst would cause the maximum damage."

During her lectures in the United States, she was once thanked by people who said, "We survived thanks to the atomic bombing," but noted that in recent years, an increasing number of people shed tears and apologize, making her strongly feel the importance of conveying the reality of nuclear weapons.

■ The Silence and Anguish of Survivors

Many survivors, she explained, harbor deep inner conflicts, blaming "themselves for being unable to help" rather than the enemy country. She also highlighted the reality that some individuals could not speak about their experiences for 50 years due to fears of genetic effects on future children.

While survivors continue to convey the message that "the mistake must not be repeated," about 5,000 of them pass away every year, and the day when there will be no more direct testifiers is approaching. The currently 88-year-old Ms. Ogura quietly stated, "Continuing to tell the story is the only thing I can do."

■ Active Dialogue with Students and Passing the Baton to the Next Generation

At the end of the lecture, numerous questions were raised by the students. Ms. Ogura listened sincerely to each question and answered them thoughtfully.
Even after the lecture, students surrounded Ms. Ogura, and the questions and dialogue continued uninterrupted. Ms. Ogura highly praised the intellectual curiosity and passion of the students at our university. As organizers, we felt that the baton was firmly passed to the next generation.

■ Message to the Next Generation

Ms. Ogura shared the following message in preparation for an era when there will no longer be direct testifiers:

The Power of Imagination and Dialogue
Imagine the perspective of others and listen with a warm heart. It is important to start with dialogue among family and friends, and to cooperate across borders.

Being Active Citizens
Do not leave things entirely to leaders; oppose war and become someone who positively influences those around you. The roles of education and media are also significant.

The Essence of Communication
Strive to communicate using various words while understanding emotions and backgrounds. Believe in the power of each individual.
Just as "a single drop of water" can gather to form a vast ocean, the collective power of individuals can move society.

The Meaning of Peace
Peace begins with one's own inner peace. It is vital to cross borders and maintain a sense of living together with everyone on Earth.