Satsuo Nakata (1920-1994), a reporter with the Osaka bureau of the Domei News Agency, came to Hiroshima on August 10, 1945. Thirty-two photos taken by him, including some of the city in ruins, have been found. Of those, at least three were published in various newspapers before the arrival of the U.S. occupation forces, telling of the destruction brought about by the atomic bombing. Under what circumstances were the photos taken and how were they handled? This article traces Mr. Nakata’s footsteps and introduces these forgotten news photos.
The so-called “Aihara materials” inspired this article. Hidetsugu Aihara, 97, a resident of Saitama Prefecture, was a documentary filmmaker who came to Hiroshima in late September 1945 as a member of the Scientific Research Council Special Committee for the Investigation of A-bomb Damage, a government team put together by the former Education Ministry to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the damage done by the A-bomb. The Aihara materials consist of approximately 6,000 photographs and documents collected from that time. Late last year they were sent to the Peace Memorial Museum by the family of Mr. Aihara on his behalf.
The photos of the devastation of Hiroshima and others were found among memos saying, “Domei negatives returned,” “Taken by Nakata” and “I don’t know anything at all about a Mr. Nakata.” There are 32 photos taken by Mr. Nakata.
A-bomb status of Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station
The bombing situation of the Hiroshima Central Broadcasting Station (JOFK), which was about 1000m northeast of the hypocenter.Wooden house near Osu Town
A wooden house near Osu-cho along the railroad track. The wooden building around 2500m from the hypocenter was destroyed in this way by the blast, but it did not burn.Damage to the grass growing in the moat of Hiroshima Castle
About 980m from the hypocenter, the damage situation of the hass growing in the moat of Hiroshima Castle.A large tree exposed to heat rays, a tree that has been uprooted by a blast.Damage to the tin roof of the oil distribution control warehouse.Blown window glass.A-bombed corpse near Hiroshima Castle, corpse due to heat rays and blast pressure. West training ground (700-800m northeast of the hypocenter).Charred remains of the deceased with eyes protruding
With the fierce pressure of the blast the air pressure in the area dropped instantaneously, resulting in eyeballs and internal organs popping out from bodies.
August 10 Near Hiroshima Castle 500m from the hypocenterAbout 1370m northeast of the hypocenter The iron door blown off by Hiroshima Teishin Hospital.A tree torn by a blast.
A freight car on the Sanyo Main Line that derailed due to the blast. At the iron bridge near Nigitsu Shrine (about 1620m from the hypocenter).Damage to rice in paddy fields 1200m away from the hypocenter.A tram (type 400) that was exposed to the bomb on a train street near Hatchobori and burned down.
A wooden house near the East Training Ground, about 3000m from the hypocenter, also collapsed.A tree torn by the blast pressure.Damage to a wooden house 3000m away from the hypocenter.The direction of Tokihabashi and Nigitsu Shrine as seen from the Hiroshima Teishin Bureau.1900m from the hypocenter Inside Hiroshima Station, the windowpane was blown off by the blast.A staircase that was broken by a blast 1000m from the hypocenter.The left side of the front is the west side of the new building of Chugoku Shimbun, and the steel frame in front of it is the warehouse of Odamasa Shoten.Looking east from the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun, towards Inaricho. The white building on the front right is the Hiroshima Higashi Police Station, the vacant lot on the front left is Noboricho National School, and the Inaricho train bridge can be seen beyond the front. The building on the lower right is the Hiroshima branch of Nihon Kangyō Bank.Completely destroyed city of HiroshimaView toward Hiroshima Station from the north side of Taisho Bridge.From the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun, you can see the southeastern direction and the direction of Mt. Hiji. In the foreground is the Hiroshima branch of Nihon Kangyō Bank
View of Nagarekawa Dori to the north from the roof of the Chugoku Shimbun.Restoration work at the Sanyo Main Line Kandagawa Railway Bridge. Heading west.
