| ID Code | 3105-0016 |
|---|---|
| Artifact Name | Child's best kimono |
| Donor | SUZUKI Fumiko |
| Receiving Date | 2014/8/27 |
| Size (W×H×D) (mm) | 830×830 |
| Distance from the Hypocenter(m) | 3200m |
| Number | 1 |
| Location | Koi, Kusatsu areas |
| Description | Child's best kimono Donated by Fumiko Suzuki 3,200 m from the hypocenter Koi-machi (now, Koi-ue 4-chome) The Suzuki family lived in Kawara-machi. Every evening, they evacuated to the house of an acquaintance to avoid night-time air raids. On the evening of August 5, Grandmother Fusa (then, 74) refused to leave and she stayed at their home. She was probably tired from going back and forth to their acquaintance's house every day. On the following morning, Father Uichi (then, 35) and Mother Teruko (then, 40), and their daughter Tomiko (then, 1) were getting ready to return their home. Then, there was a sudden flash of light, followed by a rumbling of the earth and a massive roar. When they looked down the city center, there was fire everywhere, and the entire city had transformed into a blazing inferno in a moment. No matter how long they waited for Fusa, she never appeared. On August 14, when they excavated the burnt-out ruins of their house, they found Fusa in the kitchen, partially burned by the fire. This child's best kimono had been kept at their acquaintance's house where they evacuated. Since the roofs of the house were blown off, black rain fell in and left black stains on the kimono. (From Fumiko's account) My mother Teruko didn't mention the atomic bombing for a long time. It was after I got married when she first talked about it, and then we applied for an Atomic bomb Survivor's Certificate. She probably had kept silent out of concern for my employment and marriage. This kimono was washed repeatedly, but the stains could never be removed. My mother kept it in a wicker trunk and took good care of it. |