Customer Reviews

Hiroshima Diary: The Journal of a Japanese Physician, August 6-September 30, 1945 (Rev)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an accurate and first-hand account of the bombing of Hiroshima as well as the Japanese attitude during World War II. Although medical in nature, I did not find this book at all overwhelming or too scientifically detailed. It was a quite easy read and allowed me to relate the Japanese citizens of this traumatic period.

More than a medical documentation, this was a dramatic tale of real people, real situations and real feelings. Surprisingly, it was not depressing and did not leave me riddled with guilt over being an American. I was impressed by the heroic acts of regular Japanese citizens and dumbfounded over their undying allegience to thier plight and country; AT the same time they did not express morosness or hatred twords the incoming American soldiers- instead they welcomed them as notable collegues and almost friends. Despite the disparity of thier people and thier country they were able to see past all feelings of disdain and recogize that the most important thing was family, love and friendship. In addition to it being a beutiful story, I also gained vast knowledge of the effects of radiation and the Atomic bomb-- a seemingly gaurded secreat amoungst American history lessons.

I read this book when I was in college, as a chemistry/chemical engineering major. As a young scientist, I was enamored of the sheer power contained with atoms, and was intrigued by atomic/nuclear weapons. My goal was to earn a PhD in nuclear engineering and to pursue a career at a National Laboratory such as Los Alamos or Sandia, where I hoped to work in the development of these sort of weapons.

This book changed my life. The personal accounts of the doctor in this book had a profound effect on me, both intellectually and emotionally. I was horrified by the effects of this technology. I changed my career plans and now pursue the development of much more helpful materials. I highly recommend reading this book.

In "Hiroshima Diary," Dr. Michihiko Hachiya recounts his experience as both a victim of the atomic bomb and a first-responder of aid.
Hachiya's account graphically depicts the confusing, terrible weeks that followed the atomic attack on Hiroshima. His matter-of -fact interpretation revels how little modern portrayals of the bombing compare with reality.
The destruction wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima is not to be underestimated, however, Hachiya bares facts that today seem unbelievable in light of the vast devastation.
For all his suffering and all he has been witness to, Hachiya demonstrates little resentment towards the Americans who completely altered his way of life.
A profound book that is both troubling in its imagery and beautiful in its language. No less poignant today than so many years ago.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

In "Hiroshima Diary," Dr. Michihiko Hachiya recounts his experience as both a victim of the atomic bomb and a first-responder.
Hachiya's account graphically depicts the confusing, terrible weeks that followed the atomic attack on Hiroshima. His matter-of -fact interpretation revels how little modern portrayals of the bombing compare with reality.
The destruction wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima is not to be underestimated, however, Hachiya bares facts that today seem unbelievable in light of the vast devastation.
For all his suffering and all he has been witness to, Hachiya demonstrates little resentment towards the Americans who completely altered his way of life.
A profound book that is both troubling in its imagery and beautiful in its language. No less poignant today than so many years ago.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

I picked up this book after it was cited as a reference in Richard Rhodes "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", a book I highly recommend as well. Hiroshima Diary is written in such a frank, simple yet detailed manner that I found myself unable to put the book down and read it in a single sitting. It only covers a rather short period of time following the Aug. 6th bombing and ends with a description of a few interactions with the Allied occupation officers visiting the Communications Hospital. I highly recommend this very personal account written from one individual's view of one of history's most significant and terrible moments. There is no flag waving. No political rhetoric. No attempt to rationalize the weapon's use. Just the thoughts and at times emotional observations of a Japanese citizen grappling with the complete loss of his home, all his possessions, national defeat, and the fear of Allied occupation. All the while trying to solve the frustrating puzzle of radiation sickness afflicting his patients and friends. This book provided a very different and personal perspective to the nuclear "option" and makes for a very strong case against their use.

In "Hiroshima Diary," Dr. Michihiko Hachiya recounts his experience as both a victim of the atomic bomb and a first-responder of aid.
Hachiya's account graphically depicts the confusing, terrible weeks that followed the atomic attack on Hiroshima. His matter-of -fact interpretation revels how little modern portrayals of the bombing compare with reality.
The destruction wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima is not to be underestimated, however, Hachiya bares facts that today seem unbelievable in light of the vast devastation.
For all his suffering and all he has been witness to, Hachiya demonstrates little resentment towards the Americans who completely altered his way of life.
A profound book that is both troubling in its imagery and beautiful in its language. No less poignant today than so many years ago.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

In "Hiroshima Diary," Dr. Michihiko Hachiya recounts his experience as both a victim of the atomic bomb and a first-responder of aid.
Hachiya's account graphically depicts the confusing, terrible weeks that followed the atomic attack on Hiroshima. His matter-of -fact interpretation revels how little modern portrayals of the bombing compare with reality.
The destruction wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima is not to be underestimated, however, Hachiya bares facts that today seem unbelievable in light of the vast devastation.
For all his suffering and all he has been witness to, Hachiya demonstrates little resentment towards the Americans who completely altered his way of life.
A profound book that is both troubling in its imagery and beautiful in its language. No less poignant today than so many years ago.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

I must admit 4 1/2 stars would be most appropriate.
In "Hiroshima Diary," Dr. Michihiko Hachiya recounts his experience as both a victim of the atomic bomb and a first-responder of aid.
Hachiya's account graphically depicts the confusing, terrible weeks that followed the atomic attack on Hiroshima. His matter-of -fact interpretation revels how little modern portrayals of the bombing compare with reality.
The destruction wrought upon the Japanese people at Hiroshima is not to be underestimated, however, Hachiya bares facts that today seem unbelievable in light of the vast devastation.
For all his suffering and all he has been witness to, Hachiya demonstrates little resentment towards the Americans who completely altered his way of life.
A profound book that is both troubling in its imagery and beautiful in its language. No less poignant today than so many years ago.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

This book was written by a Japanese doctor who lived in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing. It was interesting reading an account from a survivor. Since it comes from a diary and not just memories, in the beginning the people were not even aware of the nature of the bomb. There is more of a technical medical nature than the average reader would prefer, but it's still worth the read. Most surprising to me was the attitude of the people once they knew what kind of bomb it was.

I don't normally review books. I don't know if it's because I'm lazy or because I just don't care to do so. However, with this book I feel the need to talk about it. Maybe that's because I've never had a book that was assigned to me (albeit I chose this particular book from a long list of books that discuss the atomic bomb) that I found hard to put down.

Let me start out by saying 'Hiroshima Diary' is written from the perspective of Dr. Michihiko Hachiya - the director of the Hiroshima Communications Hospital (located about 1,500 meters from where the bomb hit) - and contains his thoughts and experiences from the moment the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 up through September 30 of the same year.

Now, what draws you (and when I say you, I clearly mean what drew me) into this diary is not just getting a first hand perspective of someone who witnessed this momentous event in human history and its impact on the city and its people (along with the recollection of second hand accounts of NUMEROUS other witnesses of the event), but that we as the reader take this journey with him as he strives to make sense of what's happening around him. Hachiya really has no hindsight as he writes his entries on what's going to happen in the future, which is what makes this such a compelling read. You get to understand the mayhem of that period in time, the fear, and the attempt to make sense out of this disastrous event.

The diary starts out with general speculation on what actually happened in Hiroshima. When word reaches that it was an atomic bomb, for a while there is speculation that Japan also had a similar weapon and had actually used it in retaliation against America. Also rumors about whether Japan is going to surrender, when and how occupation will occur, how allied troops will treat them - and how those rumors turn from...well...rumors to facts. Then comes the radiation sickness and Hachiya and the rest of the hospital staff trying to figure out what exactly this sickness is. How to differentiate the symptoms of radiation sickness to those who are sick in other ways, what caused it, what the treatments are for it, if there are treatments, why are some people getting sick with symptoms later than others, why do some symptoms lead to death sometimes in certain people, but don't necessarily in others?

And yes, there are some medical words used in the book, but in no way does that hinder its readability. Any term or medical event that does occur is explained in a way that someone not familiar with medical knowledge would understand (and trust me, I'm FAR from doctor material, and I had no problem with anything in here). If you can understand two terms: Epilation and Petechiae (which he explains about a hundred times), if you've heard of such organs as the lungs, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, etc., and what white blood cells, red blood cells, and blood platelets are, then you're golden. And besides, while an important part of the book, it's not the only part of it.

Overall, this is just a great first hand account of an important moment in the history of the world from the viewpoint of a man who lived through it. The book is not about the facts of the bombing, it's about speculation and an attempt to recover the facts. It's about getting into the head of someone experiencing that moment in time - someone who doesn't really know what's going on around him. It's about the reaction he and others have to their whole world getting turned upside down, to seeing the dead and dying everywhere, the suffering, the rumors, and the uncertainty of whether they'll live another day or whether more bombs are going to come and finish the job they started on August 6.