| ID Code | 3101-0124 |
|---|---|
| Artifact Name | School uniform |
| Donor | Atsuko Harada |
| Receiving Date | 1998/12/08 |
| Size (W×H×D) (mm) | 1000×460 |
| Distance from the Hypocenter(m) | 1750 |
| Number | 1 |
| Location | Hijiyama, Niho areas |
| Description | She said, “Please let me go to where dad is,” and she did so. Daughters’ relics left in the house Donated by Atsuko Harada Relics of the sisters Takeko Harada (a third-year student at First Municipal Girls High School) and Fusako Harada (a first-year student at First Prefectural Girls High School). These articles were left at their home. Their mother Atsuko has treasured them for more than half a century after the atomic bombing. Takeko experienced the bombing at Hiroshima Station, approximately 1,900 meters from the hypocenter. Exposed to the flash of light from the front, she suffered severe burns over her entire body. She was taken to the dormitory of the place where she worked as a mobilized student. Nursed by her mother who rushed to the site, her condition seemed to be improving. However, on September 17, she took a sudden turn for the worse and finally passed away at around 7:00 p.m. on September 23. Takeko’s younger sister Fusako went missing after she went to her building demolition work site. Her body has never been found. Told by their mother Atsuko Harada We had torrential rain on September 17, and Taeko also had to sit up to prepare for evacuation. Her condition had been improving, but right after this, she took a sudden turn for the worse. I remember with guilt having yelled at her on September 21, when she pleaded that she wanted to go to where her father (Kanichiro, who had died from the atomic bombing) was. Takeko said, “Mom, you have a boy waiting for you. Go to him now,” with concern for her younger brother who was a fifth-year student in elementary school. Then she said anxiously, “Please let me go to where dad is,” and she did so at dusk on September 23. On the morning of the 6th, my other daughter, Fusako, proudly said, “I was chosen as the leader of first- and second-year students at the First Prefectural (Girls High School) who come home from school in a group.” Then she said, “I don’t feel like eating potatoes today,” so I gave her some of my rice. She ate it, said “I’m leaving now,” and left. She never looked back. That’s the last time I saw her. She passed away in her summer uniform. |