Kazuo Kimura's diary

The Hiroshima atomic bomb museum was an experience I will never forget. I really enjoyed reading all the personal stories. One story stuck out to me in particular. The display was small and only took up a small portion of the museum but something about it drew me towards it. There wasn't much but a small replication of a journal and pieces of paper taken from that journal.

 As many people know, I love to journal. Seeing this I hoped I would be able to feel a connection to the author, small though it might be. As I started to read, I found out that the journal belonged to Kazuo Kimura, an 18 year old student at a nearby mechanical engineering university. Again, this really struck out to me because I am a 20 year old university student studying mechanical engineering. The similarity was startling to me. He even wanted to study abroad and thought he was destined for thermodynamics. Much like myself. I realized this stranger and I are not very different at all.

He wrote, "Today is the anniversary of Mikiyo's death. I often think, if she were still alive , I would do anything for her." and "I will absolutely not die. If I die, who will look after my aging parents?"

Kazuo didn't die immediately after the bombing. After healing from a few glass strands stuck in his back he went back to school for a bit. I read the progression of his journey after the bomb from the journal excerpts. For the next three years he wrote about his dreams for the future and thoughts of his younger sister who passed away. After a few months we read that he became sick again but of his determination to live. Then, finally, his last journal entry where he was wrote 'I will never die'. Three years after the bombing of Hiroshima on August 9, 1948 Kazuo passed away.

It's a hollow feeling once you realize how determination and strong resolve are nothing in face of death. A young man, not so different than me, had dreams and aspirations that he never got to pursue. This story could have easily been my own.

I thought it was very interesting how the museum used so many personal stories like this one to talk about the atomic bombing. There were stories similar to Kazuo all over the place. Each one connecting to different people in thousands of ways. Each one impactful and each one important.

I'm sure that my reaction is exactly the kind of reaction they want to get from people. The feeling of horror and shame, knowing that so many ordinary people's lives were taken from them. But I realized I didn't feel there was much animosity or blaming. More so, I felt like every story was a cry for change. A plea to never let something like this happen again.

The museum was an important reminder of how important peace is. It addressed the hard topic while also pushing forward for change and an insistence to move forward. Hiroshima is a beautiful city now with a diverse culture and vibrant spirit, standing as a testament to resilience. Walking through the museum and the city itself, I felt a quiet strength—one that doesn't erase the past but honors it by striving for a better future. It left me hopeful, reminded that even after immense tragedy, healing and peace are possible.





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