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A-bomb Artifacts

ID Code 3405-0046
Artifact Name Pouch
Donor HAMADA Ryoko
Receiving Date 2014/9/3
Size (W×H×D) (mm) 150×125
Distance from the Hypocenter(m) 1500m
Number 1
Location Kokutaiji, Senda areas
Description Pouch
Donated by Ryoko Hamada
Michiko Hamada (then, 13), a first-year student at Hiroshima Girls Commercial School, was exposed to the bomb at her building demolition worksite near Tsurumi Bridge.
On August 7, her parents desperately searched for her, but they were unable to find her. When they were about to leave, they met a person who was taking care of her at home.
Michiko was scorched and suffering severe burns over her entire body. When she saw her parents, she was delighted to say, "I am glad to see you, Mother..." Her parents carried her home and took her to a doctor. All the doctor could do was to apply some Mercurochrome to her wounds. Her mother stayed by her side constantly to take care of her. Blood and pus gushed out from her wounds through the absorbent cotton covering them, and her hair fell out. She hoped that her hair would grow back for the autumn festival, but she died on the morning of August 19.
(From the account of Ryoko, a younger sister of Hajime and Michiko)
I was born after the war, so I never met my brother or sister. I've always thought about how much more secure I would have felt if they had both been alive.
I've always seen my parents lamenting the death of my brother and sister, and not a day has passed without thinking of them.
My mother read Buddhist sutras every morning and evening and visited the temple to listen to the monk's Buddhist sermons until she died. She would say to my brother and sister in front of the Buddhist altar, "I'm coming to you soon."

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