| ID Code | 3502-0046 |
|---|---|
| Artifact Name | Pocket Watch |
| Donor | KAMEMOTO Hiroko |
| Receiving Date | 2015/12/20 |
| Size (W×H×D) (mm) | 45×50×7 |
| Distance from the Hypocenter(m) | 500 |
| Number | 1 |
| Location | Moto-machi, Hakushima areas |
| Description | Pocket Watch Donated by Hiroko Kamemoto Approx. 500m from the hypocenter Moto-machi This is an item left by Mr. Takeo Fukunaga (then, 33). Injured in a battle, Takeo lost the sight of his right eye. After returning to Hiroshima, he worked at the Hiroshima First Army Hospital. On the morning of August 6th, Takeo left home, telling his daughter Hiroko (then, 5) and his son Yoshinori (then, 4) to listen to their mother and grow up quickly. Then he went missing. From the following day, his wife Kimiyo (then, 31) continued to go to the remains of the burned out hospital to find him. One week later, she found Takeo’s artificial eye and the pocket watch which he used to carry. These items confirmed to her that Takeo had died there. On the following day, together with their children and relatives, she gathered his ashes. Remarks by Ms. Hiroko Kamemoto, Daughter of Takeo My mother was so busy taking care of my younger brother that she often could not look after me. So in her place, my father would carry me on his back and stroll around our neighborhood so that I could sleep. Returning home, he took me off his back, but I soon woke up and said to him “One more time!” Exclaiming “Oh my!” he was kind enough to carry me on his back and stroll around our neighborhood once again. After the end of the war, my mother brought us up alone. On August 6th every year, she visited the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims early in the morning with a bouquet of flowers. Until she died, she preserved this pocket watch with considerable care as a memento of my father. |