Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Trains | The 1945 Hiroden Story ★ ONLY in JAPAN

John, you outdid yourself in this episode. The fact that the streetcar was back and running three days after the tragedy speaks heaps about the spirit and courage of this admirable persons. A fourteen year old girl, driving it though her devastated city is the most painful and beautiful poem. All our admiration and love to you and the people of Hiroshima 🫶🏻♥️

Thank you for watching this episode about Hiroshima - I wanted to tell the story we all know too well from a different point of view, from the public transportation which is still running, connecting August 6, 1945 to today. I'd love to hear from you in the comments - encourage me to make more videos like this. This episode took a lot of research and planning. Thank you to Sasaguchi-san and her daughter, Hiroden and Hiroshima city for the support and access to tell this incredible story, believing in me to make it with heart and soul. -John

Not just the train. It's amazing that the conductor girl is still alive in her 90s. She worked through the radioactivity just a few days after.

Episodes like this is why this channel is so important to learning about Japan's history. Thank you John for this heartbreaking yet uplifting episode. The survivor you interviewed was just so lovely. I can't imagine at 14 years old going through this, she definitely had a guardian angel around her that day.

thank you for this video John! Edit: I know this video may not get the views it deserves, YT doesn't always like to promote war topics due to the less advertiser friendliness of it, but nonetheless you going to Hiroshima, finding someone from that WWII time period and interviewing them, and giving your take on it all from the starting point of the street train cars is absolutely priceless. You've done an amazing job, don't let low views stop you from making great content!

Well done, John! Tackling such a heavy topic is no easy feat, yet you consistently deliver meaningful content for your audience. Having Susuguchi-san share her personal story added a deeply touching dimension to the video. Her story really moved me. Thanks for making this! 🙏

Thank you, John, for sharing this video. It is a true testament to the resilience of the Japanese people. Winston Churchill once said, "Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it." Showing the devastating impact of the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima seems like something out of a movie, but it is real. The destruction, the loss of life, and the suffering are all real. The archive footage taken after, showing the destruction is important to preserving this history and in recounting the story of that terrible day. I can see the care that you took in telling the story, John. Phenomenal work! I think this is the best video yet. A difficult subject but you have shown how the spirit of Hiroshima has risen from the ashes, and its message to bring peace to all. ❤

Outstanding insight into a story that needed to be told. Beautifully crafted and well shot. I, like you John, shed tears watching this. I found Hiroshima to be a lovely, peaceful city and hope to visit again one day. Thanks for your work.

Thank you for this episode, John -- it's one of your best yet. Powerful, moving and filled with such research and details, woven together with archival footage and images. I've taken the streetcar to go from the drome to Miyajima, but not the original trams 651 and 653. Next time I hope I get to ride one of them, and I now have other places to visit to see for myself these amazing historic cars. I love that you focused on this little-known story about the bombing of Hiroshima. Thanks for putting this episode together.

I kept avoiding this episode because I knew that it would hurt my heart, as I am a very emotional person. I was encouraged by your "live" today to view it, as I realized that it is an important part of history that we should never forget. I appreciate all of your dedication and hard work in conveying to us your love for Japan and their people. I've just discovered your channel and I have enjoyed immensely your sense of humor in other episodes and in this one which brought tears to my eyes. With much gratitude and love to you, your family and the people of Japan.

I couldn’t agree more with you John, it is vitally important to remember this period in time and that current and future generations also have an understanding. I’ve always admired your respect and love for Japan and this shines throughout this excellent video. The streetcars that have been lovingly preserved and maintained are very beautiful and it’s fantastic seeing the pride people have in them. Thank you for sharing this with everyone. Best wishes to you and the family.

As I commented on the Patreon preview your interview of this "Seventh Survivor" was just as impactful as the six survivor interviews by John Hersey in his 1946 book "Hiroshima." Your narrative of the young 14 year-old girl's search for her sister and the included contemporary photos of them as we learned of their reuniting after the Atomic blast made for a teared and lasting impression.   Bringing alive the archived footage by juxtapositioning it with Hiroshima today was masterful, including as you chronicled the then young conductor's presence in the 1945 street car through its stops in the days after the bombing and correlated it to the ride today in a street car of shared vintage.

Many look at the story of the atomic bombing of Japan as just a harrowing tale of death and destruction, but stories such as these also show us a tale of resilience and recovery. The commitment and unwavering spirit as evident in Hiroden's operations is one of many factors that powered Japan's economic miracle and rebound from the post-war era.

Your research and story-telling is top notch John! Thank you for recognizing her and preserving their courageous stories forever for generations to appreciate and learn. 🙏 🚃🇯🇵

Might be the contender for my favourite main channel video, John. Incredible work, brother!

John, the timing of this video is especially meaningful to my wife and I. When it posted, my wife and I were in Nagasaki experiencing the Atomic Bomb museum and Peace Park after traveling on the local trams in the city. We didn't know there were trams functioning in Hiroshima immediately after the bombing. This just added to our knowledge of the end of WWII. Thank you very much!

Wow ! One of the best episodes that you have done. The lady was 92?, and still had all the memories from that terrible day. I loved the way you just let her talk. Let's hope Humane kind never sees the use of today's modern nuclear bombs.

We visited Hiroshima in 2019. An incredibly moving experience. On our last morning we had to catch a Hiroden tram (streetcar) to the train station. A few minutes before Leaving our accommodation I had been reading the story of 651 and its survival. Being a public transport worker myself with a keen interest in history I was fascinated. To my amazement, whilst waiting for our tram to the station 651 came trundling past carrying a party of school children on a special charter trip. We were so lucky to be there at just the right moment. Thank you for this excellent video which adds a human story to the whole experience. Everyone who can should visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I defy anyone to remain untouched by doing so.

I feel so bad for all the innocent people that got caught up in that war. It's amazing that woman had such a strong will to survive and still is living to this day!

This is a great video! I've been to Hiroshima and ridden the trams before but never realized the links with the bombing. And it's really important work to help preserve that history with interviews while that's still possible.