Atomic Photographers & Artists Mitsugi Kishida

Mitsugi Kishida (1916–1988) opened a photo studio on the Hondori shopping street in downtown Hiroshima before becoming a member of the news team of the Chugoku Military District Headquarters, which was located in Hiroshima Castle. He witnessed the mushroom cloud while on an official trip to the town of Yoshida (present-day Akitakata City) in northern Hiroshima Prefecture and returned to Hiroshima the same day. The next day, he took photographs from the ruins of his photo studio, around 450 meters from the hypocenter. He was one of the first to photograph the devastated city center. After the war, he reopened his photo studio after rebuilding it on the Hondori shopping street. Mr. Kishida died at the age of 72.

View of the Fukuya Department Store new and old buildings looking northeast from near Hondori Street (former Hirataya-cho). The Shoko Chukin Bank Hiroshima Branch is on the left side and Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church is on right side of the photo.

Looking north toward Kamiya-cho and Tatemachi from Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho) — On August 7, 1945 Location: Harimaya-cho, Hiroshima Looking north toward Kamiyacho and Tatemachi from Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho). This photo was taken from the vicinity of Kishida Photo Studio, which was located on Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho) and run by the photographer Mr. Kishida. There were dead bodies under the fallen pylons and concrete. This area, which used to be Hiroshima's main shopping street, was located near the hypocenter and suffered the most serious damage. The charred body of what appears to be a young boy can be seen in the lower left of the photo.

On August 7, 1945 Location: Hiroshima View west toward the hypocenter area from Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho). This photo was taken from the vicinity of the Kishida Photo Studio, which was located in Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho) and run by the photographer Mr. Kishida. From left to right are the Imperial Bank Hiroshima Branch, Sanwa Bank Hiroshima Branch, Yasuda Seimei Life Insurance Hiroshima Branch, Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall (now the Atomic Bomb Dome), Sumitomo Bank Hiroshima Branch, and Geibi Bank Head Office. Because of the hot and smoldering embers, people could not enter the burnt ruins. The military, fire brigade, and police were out clearing the streets.

On August 7, 1945 Hiroshima City Looking east from Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho). This photo was taken from the vicinity of Kishida Photo Studio, which was located in Hondori Street (former Harimaya-cho) and run by the photographer, Mr. Kishida. From left are the Obayashi Construction Company Hiroshima branch, Kirin Beer Hall, Shimomura Clock Shop, and Yasuda Bank Hiroshima Branch. In the back center is the northern edge of Hijiyama hill. In the center is a burnt bus. In the foreground is the charred corpse of what appears to be a young boy with his legs bent.

Temporary office of Hiroshima Regimental Headquarters, Hiroshima District Headquarters — On August 7, 1945 Hiroshima City, Motomachi This is a photo of a temporary office made of tents and built on the burnt ruins of the Hiroshima Regimental Headquarters First Replacement Unit, which was located east of the Hiroshima Castle main gate. Photographed from the south looking north. A banner hanging from the gatepost reads "Hiroshima Regimental Headquarters, Hiroshima District Headquarters, Temporary Office." Behind the tent the buildings of the Hiroshima Telecommunications Bureau and Hiroshima Telecommunications Hospital can be faintly seen. On the right side of the photo, a man, who is possibly injured, can be seen sitting.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking north from the Fukuya Department Store new building. On the right is the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station. This photo was taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking northeast from the Fukuya Department Store new building. From left are the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station, the Kumura Residence, Hiroshima Station, the boiler building and chimney of Hiroshima Railway Hospital, and Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church. This photo was taken from the emergency of stairs the Fukuya Department Store new building. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking east from the Fukuya Department Store new building. From the center to the right are the Hiroshima Higashi (East) Police Station and the Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper Company new building. In the foreground of the picture is a streetcar (probably No. 421) that was exposed to the atomic bombing in front of the Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper Company. This streetcar departed from Hiroshima Station and was on the outbound line at the moment of the bombing, as shown in this photo. However, the streetcar was moved to the opposite, north side of the sidewalk relatively soon after. This photo was taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking southeast from the Fukuya Department Store new building. In the left foreground are the steel frame of the Odamasa Shoten kimono shop and the chimney of Kubota Soy Sauce (located in former Chigiya-cho). In the background, Hijiyama hill can be seen. This photo was taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking south-southeast from the Fukuya Department Store new building. This photo was taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. The cemetery in the center is Hanshuji Temple. This area is called Higashi Shintenchi. From the left, Kanawajima island and Ujinajima Island (Moto Ujina-machi and Mukou Ujina) can be seen. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Looking south-southwest from the Fukuya Department Store new building. This photo was taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. From left, Tada Pediatrics, Hiroshima Bunrika University, the elementary school attached to Hiroshima Higher Normal School, Hiroshima Postal Savings Branch Office, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital, and Hiroshima City Hall can be seen. In the right foreground, the Kirin Beer Hall can be seen. The original plan was to photograph the entire city from the rooftop, but the 8th floor was too hot to enter due to the still-smoldering embers, so the photographer took what photos he could.

Photographed from the Fukuya Department Store new building — Between August 7 and 8, 1945 Hiroshima City, Ebisu-cho Taken from the emergency stairs of the Fukuya Department Store new building. From left are Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station, the Kumura Residence, Hiroshima Station, the boiler building and chimney of Hiroshima Railway Hospital, Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, Hiroshima Higashi (East) Police Station, and the Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper Company new building. In front of the Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper Company, an A-bombed streetcar (probably No. 421) can be seen. From the center of the photo to the right are the steel frame of Odamasa Shoten kimono shop and the chimney of Kubota Soy Sauce (located in former Chigiya-cho). In the background is Hijiyama hill. cemetry in the center is Hanshuji Temple, and this area is called Higashi Shintenchi. From the left are Kanawajima island and Ujinajima island (Moto Ujina-machi and Mukou Ujina), Warehouse of Hiroshima Communication Bureau, Tada Pediatrics, Hiroshima Bunrika University, elementary school attached to Hiroshima Higher Normal School, Hiroshima Postal Savings Branch Office, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital, and Hiroshima City Hall. In the right foreground is the Kirin Beer Hall.

Looking south from near the Kamiya-cho intersection — Between August 7 and 9, 1945 Hiroshima City, Kamiya-cho Looking south from near the Kamiyacho intersection. Many people who entered Hiroshima to help with the relief efforts can be seen. The utility pole in the center is tilted away from the hypocenter due to the bomb's blast. Behind it, from left, are the wreckage of the Daido Life Insurance Company Hiroshima branch, Geibi Bank Hiroshima branch, Sumitomo Bank Hiroshima branch, Yasuda Life Insurance Company Hiroshima branch, Meiji Life Insurance Company Hiroshima branch, and the Hiroshima Fukokukan building.

Yokogawa-cho (In front of the head office of Hiroshima City Credit Cooperative) — Between August 7 and 9, 1945 Hiroshima City, Yokogawa-cho 3-chome. Relief work is carried out in front of head office of Hiroshima City Credit Cooperative victims. This building survived the fire, and many A-bomb took refuge inside the building from the evening of August 6. On the following day, August 7, a relief team from the Kamo Naval Medical School opened a relief station and provided relief work until the evening of August 9.

Combat command office set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall — Between August 8 and 12, 1945 Hiroshima City, Kokutaiji-machi Combat Command Post on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall. It was set up early in the morning of August 8 to provide relief work and maintain security.

In front of the combat command office set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall — Between August 8 and 12, 1945 Hiroshima City Hall, Kokutaiji-machi A man photographed in front of the Combat Command Post on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall. The Combat Command Post was set up early in the morning of August 8 to provide relief work and maintain security.

Looking north from the combat command office set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall — Between August 8 and 12, 1945 Hiroshima City Hall, Kokutaiji-machi Looking north from the Combat Command Post set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall. Behind the man is Hiroshima City Hall. The Combat Command Post was set up early in the morning of August 8 to provide relief work and maintain security.

Looking south from the combat command office set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall — Between August 8 and 12, 1945 Hiroshima City Hall, Kokutaiji-machi Looking south from the Combat Command Post set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall. The structure made of wood and tin behind the man is the Combat Command Post. It was set up early in the morning of August 8 to provide relief work and maintain security.

Looking southwest from the combat command office set up on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall — Between August 8 and 12, 1945 Hiroshima City Hall, Kokutaiji-machi Looking southwest from the Combat Command Post on the south side of Hiroshima City Hall. It was set up early in the morning of August 8 to provide relief work and maintain security. Behind the men, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital can be seen.

A-bombed street car — On August 9, 1945 Chugoku Haiden's head office, Komachi An A-bombed streetcar. Looking south, this picture was taken in front of the Chugoku Haiden (present Chugoku Electric Power Co., Komachi, Naka Ward) head office, 730 meters from the hypocenter. This streetcar (No. 651) was exposed to the atomic bomb while driving towards Kamiyacho. A blast from diagonally left front derailed the leading part of the streetcar to the right, blowing off the beugal (a type of power contact on the top of electric trains) on the roof, the doors, and so on. On the right side of the picture are people heading towards the hypocenter for relief work. The body of the streetcar was moved to the Senda garage by August 11, 1945 . It was restored and started running again in March 1946. As of August 2023, it is still in service as an "A-bombed train."

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