Children of Hiroshima (1952)

Nobuko Otowa: Takako Ishikawa

Photos 

Quotes 

• Toshiko, former pupil : [Takako is visiting her in a church, where she lies critically ill with radiation sickness]  Ah, Teacher.

  Takako Ishikawa : You still remember me.

  Toshiko, former pupil : I didn't at first but it came to me.

  Takako Ishikawa : Have you live here all this time?

  Toshiko, former pupil : Yes, for six years. The priest saved me the day of the bomb. I've been here ever since.

  Takako Ishikawa : And your mother and father?

  Toshiko, former pupil : Everyone was killed. And I decided to stay here. Here I can say prayers for them. I ask God to grant us peace forever.

  Takako Ishikawa : That is a very good thing to do.

  Toshiko, former pupil : Now I understand that war is the greatest evil. War is hell.

  Toshiko, former pupil : [continues]  Teacher, will you sing for me?

  Takako Ishikawa : What shall I sing?

  Toshiko, former pupil : The one you always sang at lunch. About the red ship.

  Takako Ishikawa : You remember very well!

  Toshiko, former pupil : I want to hear it just once more.

  Takako Ishikawa : Alright, then...

  Takako Ishikawa : [starts to sing]  Dear Mother, go to sleep and don't cry. Father will come home tomorrow in a red boat.

  Toshiko, former pupil : Is it nice on your island?

  Takako Ishikawa : Beautiful. I wish you could visit me. The sun rises out of the eastern sea, and sets in the west.

  Toshiko, former pupil : I'd love to, but I don't think I will. I'm going to die. But I don't mind because I'll go and join my mother and father.

  [turns away, folds her hands on her chest in prayer] 

• Takako Ishikawa : The A-bomb brought on so many tragedies that spread like ripples.

  Natsue Morikawa : It's so terrible. They'll use it again, I'm afraid.

  Takako Ishikawa : I still have glass here.

  [looks at her shoulder] 

  Takako Ishikawa : It's hard when I touch it. But I'll leave it there in remembrance of August 6.

• [repeated line] 

  Takako Ishikawa : Do you remember me?

• Kôji : I'm so pleased about her marriage to Tanaka. He'd promised to marry her once the war was over. But after the accident crippled her leg she gave up all hopes of marriage. She thought he'd never marry her.

  Takako Ishikawa : I'm happy for her.

  Kôji : Tanaka was repatriated in 1946 and he came to see us soon after. He said he'd marry her anyway. I was so moved by him. I felt happy just to be alive. The world is not all bad. You can still trust some people.