Kintsugi (Episode 3): Wisdom from the Last Survivors of the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Kintsugi, Episode Three was the most difficult episode to write and produce: not a dry eye was found on the production team during shooting. The survivors of Nagasaki, known as "hibakusha" in Japanese, are now in their 80's and 90's, These survivors carry the weight of war's tragedies, with remnants of radiation still present in their bodies. Many of them having scorched to death, or later diagnosed with leukemia; the tragedy still affects the survivors to this day. Even now, when family members, friends, or crew members revisit this footage, it is nearly impossible to watch the full episode without shedding tears that flow with pure sorrow and anguish.

These survivors truly embody the spirit of kintsugi, more than anyone else we interviewed in this series. They share with us the horrors they endured on August 9th, 1945, the suffering of their families, and the challenges of growing up as orphaned children, often rejected as "hibakusha." Many were mere children when the bomb dropped.

We also visit the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Museum with unexpected emotions coming to light- and a local elementary school that was destroyed by the bombing, which has now been transformed into a living example of kintsugi—a bombed school- rebuilt into a Nagasaki memorial museum.

Lastly, we'll see the children of Nagasaki today, carrying on the legacy of their homeland as they continue to learn and grow.

Please note, this episode is very difficult to watch. But, in our lives today, I truly believe that from what is broken, something beautiful can emerge.