On August 6 1945, the day of the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima, Sankichi Toge was 28 years-old and living three kilometres from the centre of the city.
The following poem and 24 others appeared in his 'An Anthology of A-bomb Poems', which he sent to a Peace Rally held in Berlin.
It caused a worldwide reaction.
Two years later, at the age of 36, he died in the National Hiroshima Sanatorium.
GIVE BACK PEACE
Give back my father, give back my mother;
Give grandpa back, grandma back;
Give me my sons and daughters back.
Give me back myself.
Give back the human race.
As long as this life lasts, this life,
Give back peace
That will never end.
Sankichi Toge
NOTE:The bomb used at Hiroshima killed 140,000 people, mostly civilians. Since then, thousands more have died from injuries or illness attributed to exposure to radiation.
Harry S, Truman said on July 25, 1945:
"We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world.... This weapon is to be used against Japan between now and August 10th.
I have told the Sec. of War, Mr. Stimson, to use it so that military objectives and soldiers and sailors are the target and not women and children.
Even if the Japs are savages, ruthless, merciless and fanatic, we as the leader of the world for the common welfare cannot drop that terrible bomb on the old capital or the new.
He and I are in accord. The target will be a purely military one."
