The U.S. firebombing of Tokyo in 1945 resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people in a single night, comparable to the atomic bombings that followed. Despite this massive loss of life, the Japanese government has not provided aid to survivors, and the event has largely been ignored or forgotten. Elderly survivors are now speaking out to ensure that their stories are told and recognized. Shizuyo Takeuchi, a survivor, recalls the devastation she witnessed as a young girl, including seeing countless burned bodies. The firebombing resulted in over 105,000 deaths, leaving a million people homeless. The survivors are pushing for financial assistance and recognition, with some advocating for a one-time payment to acknowledge their suffering. However, government opposition has stalled these efforts. Ai Saotome, whose father was a survivor and advocate for peace, is working to preserve the stories of survivors through digitalizing his records. She hopes that future generations will remember the suffering caused by the firebombing and work towards maintaining peace. The survivors’ stories shed light on the civilian casualties of war and the importance of remembering history to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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