Teruko Yahata was just eight years old when she witnessed a bluish-white light enveloping the sky over her home city of Hiroshima one summer morning. This was moments before the first atomic bomb exploded, leaving her unconscious and causing massive destruction in the Japanese city. Now, at the age of 86, she eagerly anticipates being among the first to watch the film “Oppenheimer” at its delayed opening in Japan on March 29. She hopes that this biopic of the scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb will reignite discussions about nuclear weapons.
Yahata, who represents survivors of the nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, expressed that she does not harbor any personal grudge against Mr. Oppenheimer himself. She believes that the issue is much larger and crucial for the future of humanity. She emphasized the importance of the Oppenheimer film being screened in Japan, as it can serve as a tool for learning and maintaining awareness about the need to secure a future for our loved ones.
The film “Oppenheimer”, directed by Christopher Nolan and focused on atomic bomb pioneer J. Robert Oppenheimer, is poised to receive multiple Oscars at the upcoming Academy Awards. It has already grossed nearly $1 billion since its release in July 2023. Despite its global success, Japan was initially not included in the film’s screening plans. The delayed opening in late summer occurred shortly before the annual memorials in Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorating the lives lost in the bombings.
There were critics who felt that the film overlooked the human cost in Japan, leading to offense among many Japanese citizens. A controversial marketing campaign linking the film to “Barbie” through fan-made images of nuclear blasts alongside movie stars added fuel to the fire. The #NoBarbenheimer hashtag trended online in Japan, prompting an apology from Warner Bros., the distributor of “Barbie”. Eventually, the film was picked up by Bitters End, a Japanese distributor of independent films, with the opening date set for March 29.
Japan, being the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, has been at the forefront of global efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. The issue gained renewed significance in 2022 amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and threats of nuclear escalation from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yahata, one of the few remaining “hibakusha” or survivors of the nuclear explosion, decided later in life to share her account of the fateful morning of Aug. 6, 1945, and the subsequent horrors.
She learned English to effectively communicate her story to foreign visitors at the bomb museum and monuments in Hiroshima. Recalling the moment when she saw the blast while entering her family’s garden, Yahata vividly describes how the sky lit up in bluish-white before she was thrown back six meters by the force of the explosion. Despite the chilling memories of the bomb’s creation and deployment, she expresses sympathy for Oppenheimer and his team.
Yahata acknowledges the heavy burden that must have weighed on their consciences, understanding that Oppenheimer likely comprehended the catastrophic consequences of atomic weapons better than most. She believes that reflecting on this history is vital to prevent similar tragedies in the future. As she awaits the screening of “Oppenheimer” in Japan, Yahata stresses the importance of preserving this awareness for the sake of future generations.
(Reporting by Tom Bateman in Hiroshima; Writing and additional reporting by Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
