The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb and Nature

Regrowth of Nature Post-Atomic Bombing

Atomic Bomb and Plants



The atomic bomb left deep scars on both humans and nature.



The damage to this nature shows us just how destructive the damage from the atomic bomb was.

The hypocenter, Hidetsugu Aihara, 1946-01/1946-01, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Hypocenter - The blast struck from directly above this location, leaving the trees standing.

A tree at the hypocenter, Hidetsugu Aihara, 1946-01/1946-01, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Trees Around Hypocenter – Although the trees were charred by heat rays, they remained standing. Because the blast struck directly from above, the branches were cleaved from the trees. 

The fallen trees, Shigeo Hayashi, 1945-10-12/1945-10-22, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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These blown-back trees indicated the direction of the blast. Distance from Hypocenter: 0.8 km South-Southwest

Bamboo thicket near the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard Seimei Dormitory, Shigeo Hayashi, 1945-10-12/1945-10-22, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Bamboo trees were leveled in the opposite direction of the hypocenter.  Distance from Hypocenter: 1.1 km West

Plant, Shigeo Hayashi, 1945-10-12/1945-10-22, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Japanese Spindle                                                                                                                                               The leaves of this plant were variegated and crinkled due to radiation. The variegation can be seen throughout the plant from the stem to the leaves. 

Lives were saved by trees that blocked the blast wind. Lives were lost as trees fell. Atomic bomb survivors gathered under the trees to escape the summer heat.

The memories of that day still remain with these trees.

Survivors who have gathered at the foot of the tree, Kumaichi Yamashita, 1999-06-15/1999-06-15, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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“Survivors Gathering Under a Tree”

Drawing by Atomic Bomb Survivor

The burial grounds, Ryuuji Fukumoto, 2002-05-31/2002-05-31, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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“Tombstones Scattered by the Blast”

Drawing by Atomic Bomb Survivor

Nagasaki Medical College, Eiji Takatani, 2002-07-25/2002-07-25, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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“My father was working at in a classroom in the Nagasaki Medical University Pathology Department. I went searching for him with my mother, but we never found him. I still remember that horrific sight.”

Drawing by: Atomic Bomb Survivor

Ray of Hope from the Trees





The great camphor trees of Sanno Shinto Shrine are estimated be 400 to 500 years old. The blast wind of the bomb blew away all of their branches, cleaving their charred trunks. Although these trees looked as if they would never grow again, new buds began to sprout a few months later. The sight of these trees regaining their former strength gave Nagasaki’s citizens the strength to work towards recovery.

Distance from Hypocenter: 0.8km South-Southeast

Sanno Shinto Shrine, Shigeo Hayashi, 1945-10-12/1945-10-22, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Newly Budding Camphor Trees, Two Months After Atomic Bombing

Present Day Camphor Trees



30 trees survived the atomic bomb. The scars on these trees depict the tragic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and show us the power of nature to overcome disaster.

The Oak Tree, Kenichiro Sato, 2012-03-19/2012-03-19, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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This tree, located 1km north-northwest of the hypocenter, survived the atomic bombing and remains today in the garden of a private house. Its charred inner trunk can still be seen.

Sanno Shinto Shrine, Kenichiro Sato, 2011-05-27/2011-05-27, From the collection of: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
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Great Camphor Trees of Sanno Shinto Shrine (Present Day) – The remarkable power of nature to rebound from destruction can be seen in the regrowth of these trees.

Credits: Story

Curator—Shotaro Okuno

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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