Nagasaki University Crowdfunding Project: 80 Years Since the Atomic Bombing – Preserving Memories for Future Generations
Nagasaki University preserves and houses historical artifacts that bear silent witness to the suffering and hope experienced during the atomic bombing. These “silent testifiers,” including a bloodstained medical coat, a “Kunstläge” (a historical paper anatomical model used for educational purposes, typically from the 18th to 19th centuries, and featuring flaps to show internal organs), and atomic-bombed gateposts, are invaluable for passing on the legacy of peace. However, due to the effects of aging, these artifacts are now in a critical state of deterioration. As we mark the 80 years since the atomic bombing, urgent preservation efforts are needed to ensure that these fading memories can be passed on to future generations. We sincerely ask for your understanding and support in this endeavor.
On August 9, 1945, Issei Nishimori, then a medical student at Nagasaki Medical College (formerly known as Nagasaki University School of Medicine), was exposed to the atomic bombing while observing a professor’s clinical examination of a patient from behind in the Dermatology and Urology Outpatient Clinic on the third floor of the affiliated hospital. He survived due to the building’s reinforced concrete structure and the fact that his room was located on the opposite side of the building from the hypocenter. However, approximately 30 shards of glass, blown by the intense blast, pierced his head, back, and other parts of his body, staining his white medical coat with blood. Despite his serious injuries, Nishimori went on to assist many of the wounded in the aftermath.
The affiliated hospital was located approximately 700 meters from the hypocenter. Nishimori carefully preserved the bloodstained medical coat, which bears silent testimony to the tragic consequences of the atomic bombing. Today, it is on display in the Atomic Bomb Medical History Museum.
This bloodstained coat serves as a powerful reminder of the immediate impact of the atomic bombing and the selfless medical efforts made at the time. However, prolonged display and storage on a hanger have led to significant fiber deterioration, and severe mold growth has also been identified. To preserve this invaluable artifact for future generations, we are now undertaking:
Through these efforts, we aim to preserve this irreplaceable piece of atomic bombing history for future generations.
In 1860, Pompe van Meerdervoort, who initiated the instruction of Western medicine in Nagasaki, imported Japan’s first paper anatomical model, known as a “Kunstläge,” as a visual aid for learning human anatomy. Even after it ceased to be used as a teaching tool, the model was carefully preserved as a valuable artifact symbolizing Nagasaki University, the birthplace of Western medicine in Japan.
In the final stages of the Pacific War, Associate Professor Junichiro Sato of the Department of Anatomy took steps to safeguard the model by relocating it to the reinforced concrete archive room of the university library. As a result of his decision, the Kunstläge miraculously withstood the intense heat and blast of the atomic bombing, even though it was made of paper and had lost its left half. By further fortune, Associate Professor Sato, who was away from Nagasaki at the time, survived and was later able to recover the model from the ruined archive. His actions made it possible for the model to be preserved in its present form.
Only four anatomical models of the same type (Kunstläge) remain in Japan today. The model preserved at Nagasaki University has survived the devastation of the atomic bombing. More than 165 years after its creation, it still stands on its own, conveying the preciousness of life and the importance of peace. It is not only a witness to the history of Nagasaki University and the tragedy of the atomic bomb, but also a rare and invaluable artifact that marks the origin of Western medical education in Japan. However, numerous cracks have now been discovered, and the model is in a fragile state, barely able to remain upright. In response, we are undertaking the following measures:
These efforts aim to prevent further deterioration an and ensure that this historically significant artifact is passed on to future generations.
On the Sakamoto Campus of Nagasaki University stand two gateposts classified as
“Category A” under the “Nagasaki City Criteria for the Conservation of Atomic-Bombed Buildings and Structures.” One belongs to the former main gate, and the other to the former side gate. The former main gatepost, constructed from massive stone blocks, measures approximately 1.2 meters on each side and stands 2.1 meters tall. The force of the atomic blast caused it to shift and tilt, creating a gap of up to 16 centimeters between the gatepost and its pedestal.
In January 2024, the gatepost from the former side gate was unearthed during slope construction a short distance away. This stone pillar, like the one at the former main gate, had been broken off at its base by the force of the atomic blast. Both structures serve as powerful reminders of the unimaginable destructive power of the atomic bomb.
The gatepost from the former main gate serves as a site for peace education, where many school groups from across Japan offer a thousand origami cranes as a symbol of peace and hope. However, after 80 years of exposure to the elements since the atomic bombing, the structure has significantly deteriorated. We also hope to incorporate the recently unearthed gatepost from the former side gate into student tour routes and to use it as a valuable historical artifact to help convey the devastating impact of the atomic bomb. To achieve this, we plan to:
These efforts aim to make the site more accessible and meaningful for a wider audience.
