Michihiko Hachiya
Michihiko Hachiya was a Japanese physician who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945. He kept a personal diary of his experience in the aftermath of the bombing which was later published as Hiroshima Diary in 1955.
Bombing of Hiroshima
Hachiya was the director of the Hiroshima Communications Hospital and lived near the hospital, about a mile from the explosion's center. In his diary, which covers the period from 6 August 1945 to 30 September 1945, he describes the effects of the atomic bomb blast from its first flash in the early morning as he rested from his night shift as an air warden at the hospital. The force of the blast stripped all the clothes from his body but he and his wife survived, however they both received serious burns to their bodies and had to go to the hospital where Hachiya worked. He spent the night in the care of the hospital staff who were not seriously injured.After his injuries healed, Hachiya started making his daily rounds as normal. The staff and patients at the hospital called the atomic bomb that hit their city "pikadon". As time passed, they gathered an understanding of what had happened to their city, and the condition of the hospital drastically improved as more medical supplies were brought into the city, allowing them to better treat patients. The diary goes on to discuss historical events such as the surrender of Japan.