Question
Source: The Hiroshima survivor testimony of Akihiro Takahashi, 1986.
Note: Akihiro Takahashi was 14 years old when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He was standing in line with other students about a mile away from the explosion, waiting for school to begin. He had permanent injuries from the atomic blast but lived to the age of 80. Akihiro died in 2011.
Ruins of a wrist watch stopped at 8.15, the time atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
A wristwatch found in the ruins of Hiroshima
We … saw a B-29 approaching and about to fly over us. All of us were looking up at the sky, pointing out the aircraft. Then the teachers came out from the school building and the class leaders gave the command to fall in. Our faces were all shifted from the direction of the sky to that of the platform. That was the moment when the blast came. And then the tremendous noise came, and we were left in the dark. I couldn’t see anything at the moment of explosion…. We had been blown by the blast. Of course, I couldn’t realize this until the darkness disappeared. I was actually blown about 10 meters.... Everything collapsed for as far as I could see. I felt the city of Hiroshima had disappeared all of a sudden. Then I looked at myself and found my clothes had turned into rags due to the heat. I was probably burned at the back of the head, on my back, on both arms and both legs. My skin was peeling and hanging, like this. Automatically I began to walk, heading west because that was the direction of my home…. I saw a man whose skin was completely peeled off the upper half of his body and a woman whose eyeballs were sticking out. Her whole body was bleeding. A mother and her baby were lying with skin completely peeled off. We desperately made a way, crawling.... The heat was tremendous. And I felt like my body was burning all over. For my burning body the cold water of the river was as precious as the treasure. Then I left the river, and I walked along the railroad tracks in the direction of my home….
Document number or letter
Source (Where did the document come from?)
Author of the Document
Source: (Primary or Secondary)
Main Idea of the Document
Key quote, image or data
Analytical category (bucket) justified or unjustified
Note: Akihiro Takahashi was 14 years old when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He was standing in line with other students about a mile away from the explosion, waiting for school to begin. He had permanent injuries from the atomic blast but lived to the age of 80. Akihiro died in 2011.
Ruins of a wrist watch stopped at 8.15, the time atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
A wristwatch found in the ruins of Hiroshima
We … saw a B-29 approaching and about to fly over us. All of us were looking up at the sky, pointing out the aircraft. Then the teachers came out from the school building and the class leaders gave the command to fall in. Our faces were all shifted from the direction of the sky to that of the platform. That was the moment when the blast came. And then the tremendous noise came, and we were left in the dark. I couldn’t see anything at the moment of explosion…. We had been blown by the blast. Of course, I couldn’t realize this until the darkness disappeared. I was actually blown about 10 meters.... Everything collapsed for as far as I could see. I felt the city of Hiroshima had disappeared all of a sudden. Then I looked at myself and found my clothes had turned into rags due to the heat. I was probably burned at the back of the head, on my back, on both arms and both legs. My skin was peeling and hanging, like this. Automatically I began to walk, heading west because that was the direction of my home…. I saw a man whose skin was completely peeled off the upper half of his body and a woman whose eyeballs were sticking out. Her whole body was bleeding. A mother and her baby were lying with skin completely peeled off. We desperately made a way, crawling.... The heat was tremendous. And I felt like my body was burning all over. For my burning body the cold water of the river was as precious as the treasure. Then I left the river, and I walked along the railroad tracks in the direction of my home….
Document number or letter
Source (Where did the document come from?)
Author of the Document
Source: (Primary or Secondary)
Main Idea of the Document
Key quote, image or data
Analytical category (bucket) justified or unjustified
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Document Number or Letter:** N/A (testimony)
**Source:** Testimony of Akihiro Takahashi, 1986
**Author of the Document:** Akihiro Takahashi
**Source (Where did the document come from?):** Survivor testimony; firsthand account of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
**Author of the Document:** Akihiro Takahashi, a Hiroshima survivor who was 14 years old at the time of the bombing.
**Source:** Primary
**Main Idea of the Document:** The testimony recounts Akihiro Takahashi's personal experience of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, describing the immediate chaos and destruction caused by the blast, his physical injuries, and the horrific sights he encountered as he sought safety.
**Key Quote, Image, or Data:** "I felt the city of Hiroshima had disappeared all of a sudden. Then I looked at myself and found my clothes had turned into rags due to the heat... I saw a man whose skin was completely peeled off the upper half of his body and a woman whose eyeballs were sticking out. Her whole body was bleeding."
**Analytical Category (bucket) justified or unjustified:** Justified. This account provides a critical firsthand experience of the devastating impact of nuclear warfare, highlighting the human suffering and destruction resulting from the atomic bomb. It serves as a valuable historical record and a testimony to the horrors of war, calling for reflection and awareness regarding the consequences of nuclear weapons.
**Source:** Testimony of Akihiro Takahashi, 1986
**Author of the Document:** Akihiro Takahashi
**Source (Where did the document come from?):** Survivor testimony; firsthand account of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
**Author of the Document:** Akihiro Takahashi, a Hiroshima survivor who was 14 years old at the time of the bombing.
**Source:** Primary
**Main Idea of the Document:** The testimony recounts Akihiro Takahashi's personal experience of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, describing the immediate chaos and destruction caused by the blast, his physical injuries, and the horrific sights he encountered as he sought safety.
**Key Quote, Image, or Data:** "I felt the city of Hiroshima had disappeared all of a sudden. Then I looked at myself and found my clothes had turned into rags due to the heat... I saw a man whose skin was completely peeled off the upper half of his body and a woman whose eyeballs were sticking out. Her whole body was bleeding."
**Analytical Category (bucket) justified or unjustified:** Justified. This account provides a critical firsthand experience of the devastating impact of nuclear warfare, highlighting the human suffering and destruction resulting from the atomic bomb. It serves as a valuable historical record and a testimony to the horrors of war, calling for reflection and awareness regarding the consequences of nuclear weapons.