Hiroshima War Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Before the war, he had affected brands imported from Scotland and America; now he was perfectly satisfied with the best Japanese brand, Suntory. (1.16)

Beyond air raids and evacuations, there were also more minor staples of wartime life in Japan, including limitations on what one could buy/get in the way of foreign goods. Apparently, Dr. Fujii, who loved foreign whiskey, had to make do with Suntory… after all, "for relaxing times, make it Suntory time."

Quote #5

"It seems logical that he who supports total war in principle cannot complain of a war against civilians. The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable, even when it serves a just purpose. Does it not have material and spiritual evil as its consequences which far exceed whatever good might result? When will our moralists give us a clear answer to this question?" (4.40)

Hersey sometimes quotes other people's thoughts about the war and its lasting impact. This quote reflecting on the ethics of total war came from a report someone named Father Siemes wrote to the Holy See. Hersey identifies Father Siemes as someone who talked about the ethics of the bomb with other German priests in Japan, including Father Kleinsorge.

Quote #6

In referring to those who went through the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, the Japanese tended to shy away from the term "survivors," because in its focus on being alive it might suggest some slight to the sacred dead. (5.4)

It's interesting that many who lived through the war/Hiroshima bombing did not want to talk about their status in terms of survival. Instead, survivors of the blast referred to themselves as hibakusha.