Hiroshima Maidens
Encyclopedia
The Hiroshima Maidens are a group of twenty-five Japan
ese women who were young when they were seriously disfigured as a result of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
on the morning of August 6, 1945.
Keloid
scars marred their faces and many of their hands were bent into claw-like positions. These women, as well as the other citizens affected by the A-bomb, were referred to as hibakusha
, meaning "explosion-affected people".
The more specific nickname for the group of women – the Hiroshima Maidens – caught on when the women were brought to the United States to undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries
. This highly publicized turn of events was largely the work of Saturday Review editor Norman Cousins
, an outspoken advocate of nuclear disarmament
.
One of these survivors, Miyoko Matsubara, has said:
, exactly 235,569 living hibakusha were certified by the Japanese government, with an average age of 75.92.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese women who were young when they were seriously disfigured as a result of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
on the morning of August 6, 1945.
Keloid
Keloid
A keloid is a type of scar, which depending on its maturity, is composed mainly of either type III or type I collagen. It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation tissue at the site of a healed skin injury which is then slowly replaced by collagen type 1...
scars marred their faces and many of their hands were bent into claw-like positions. These women, as well as the other citizens affected by the A-bomb, were referred to as hibakusha
Hibakusha
The surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are called , a Japanese word that literally translates to "explosion-affected people"...
, meaning "explosion-affected people".
The more specific nickname for the group of women – the Hiroshima Maidens – caught on when the women were brought to the United States to undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery is, in its broadest sense, the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body, although Maxillo-Facial Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.Other...
. This highly publicized turn of events was largely the work of Saturday Review editor Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins was an American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate.-Early life and education:...
, an outspoken advocate of nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
.
One of these survivors, Miyoko Matsubara, has said:
, exactly 235,569 living hibakusha were certified by the Japanese government, with an average age of 75.92.
See also
- Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and NagasakiAtomic bombings of Hiroshima and NagasakiDuring the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
- HibakushaHibakushaThe surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are called , a Japanese word that literally translates to "explosion-affected people"...
- White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and NagasakiWhite Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and NagasakiWhite Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is an HBO documentary film that was directed and produced by Steven Okazaki and was released on August 6, 2007 on HBO, marking the 62nd anniversary of the first atomic bombing...
(2007)