Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa was interviewed by Scholastic students in May 2000.
What was it like living in Hiroshima after the bombing? asked a student.
( Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa answer was)
"Well, before the war ended, everything was rationed". "We had a very small amount of food, clothing, and so forth. Even after the war was over, the supply of food and clothing was very limited". "As a 15 year old, I remember almost always being hungry, and wearing tattered or patched-up clothes". "All around us houses were burned or destroyed, and people were burned or suffering from the atomic bombing". "We just had to make do with whatever was available".
When did people first become aware that there was a danger of radiation exposure?
( Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa answer was)
"Unfortunately, as history indicates, the U.S. occupational forces hid the truth about the danger of radiation so that we didn't know about the danger for many, many months — I think for even over a year. In fact, I don't remember hearing about the danger of radiation until I came back to the U.S. in 1948. And my friends hadn't heard about it". "That's why many people stayed in Hiroshima, which compounded the effects of the radiation. Since people stayed, they got more and more contaminated. The danger of radiation decreased as time went by, but for example, we heard that plants were not going to grow again for a long time, but we were never told the scientific reason". "We didn't know if it was true or just a rumor that plants and grass were not going to grow in Hiroshima for another 75 years".
What was it like living in Hiroshima after the bombing? asked a student.
( Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa answer was)
"Well, before the war ended, everything was rationed". "We had a very small amount of food, clothing, and so forth. Even after the war was over, the supply of food and clothing was very limited". "As a 15 year old, I remember almost always being hungry, and wearing tattered or patched-up clothes". "All around us houses were burned or destroyed, and people were burned or suffering from the atomic bombing". "We just had to make do with whatever was available".
When did people first become aware that there was a danger of radiation exposure?
( Francis Mitsuo Tomosawa answer was)
"Unfortunately, as history indicates, the U.S. occupational forces hid the truth about the danger of radiation so that we didn't know about the danger for many, many months — I think for even over a year. In fact, I don't remember hearing about the danger of radiation until I came back to the U.S. in 1948. And my friends hadn't heard about it". "That's why many people stayed in Hiroshima, which compounded the effects of the radiation. Since people stayed, they got more and more contaminated. The danger of radiation decreased as time went by, but for example, we heard that plants were not going to grow again for a long time, but we were never told the scientific reason". "We didn't know if it was true or just a rumor that plants and grass were not going to grow in Hiroshima for another 75 years".