Restoring Testimonies: Rediscovering the Individual & Unfolding Memory in Hibakusha Narratives.

By Tomoko Hiramoto

In this thesis, I aim to restore testimonies of Hibakusha, atomic bomb survivors, by using oral history methodologies. The discussion is on the assumption that their testimonies are fixed and are not capable of fully demonstrating the heaviness of the past for the future generations to learn the importance of peace. I first demonstrate how Hibakusha testimonies have been fixed, highlighting manipulations and oversimplifications by the States and the society, which veil the complexity of reality and experience. Secondly, I illuminate oral history methodologies and explain how oral history interviews could deconstruct their testimonies and restore their emotions. Lastly, I present three Hibakusha testimonies as an outcome of restorations. The results are dramatically inspiring for my further research; For Hibakusha, their testimonies became diverse, unfolding their own emotions and sufferings; For interviewers, the whole engagements became great learning experiences of the realities of the atomic bombings.

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Tomoko Kubota-Hiramoto is a newscaster and a reporter of Tokyo Broadcasting Systems Television in Japan. She also contributes to Japanese newspapers and Magazines on a variety of topics. Her passion as a journalist has its roots deep in her hometown, Hiroshima. Tomoko was surrounded by the stories of the Hibakusha, the atomic bomb survivors as she grew up. Through them, she learned to value and respect peace, and became determined that she would like to dedicate her career to the alleviation of conflicts in the world.

Her interest in OHMA results from her uneasiness as atomic bomb survivors age. She would like to devote herself to ensure that the A-bomb survivors’ experiences and desires for peace are faithfully inherited and shared with as many people as possible. Therefore, she would like to conduct continuous interviews of the atomic bomb survivors. There are still many who are unable to talk about their experiences, those who have gone through the worst of the tragedy. Furthermore, she would like to cultivate the oral history archives of the atomic bomb survivors, as well as of the Americans involved with the atomic bombings, and start research on how the memory of a witness and trauma could be transmitted to future generations effectively.

Tomoko holds a BA in Foreign Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.