Japanese Man, 93, Survived Both A-Bombs

Was on business in Hiroshima; lived in Nagasaki
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 24, 2009 12:18 PM CDT
Japanese Man, 93, Survived Both A-Bombs
Doves fly by the Statue of Peace during a ceremony to mark the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, Aug. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)

At 93, a Japanese man has become the first certified survivor of both atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the AP reports. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on business Aug. 6, 1945, when the US bombed the city; after a night there, he returned home to Nagasaki, bombed Aug. 9. Japan offers survivors a monthly allowance and free health checkups, and pays for funerals.

“As far as we know, he is the first one to be officially recognized as a survivor of atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” an official said. “It’s such an unfortunate case, but it is possible that there are more people like him.” (More Hiroshima stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X