Shigeko Sasamori, who endured horrific injuries as a result of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima at age 13, passed away on December 15, 2024. A determined advocate for peace, she used her experience to warn against nuclear war to audiences worldwide.
Shigeko Sasamori: Hiroshima Survivor and Peace Advocate Dies at 92
Shigeko Sasamori: Hiroshima Survivor and Peace Advocate Dies at 92
Shigeko Sasamori, a Hiroshima survivor who dedicated her life to promoting peace and awareness of nuclear dangers, has passed away at the age of 92.
Shigeko Sasamori, who was only 13 when the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, dedicated her life to educating others about the catastrophic effects of nuclear warfare. She passed away on December 15, 2024, at her home in Marina del Rey, California, at the age of 92. Her son, Norman Cousins Sasamori, confirmed her death.
Despite her traumatic experiences, Ms. Sasamori spoke with compassion and resolve, discussing the impact of nuclear war on human health during her numerous speaking engagements that included students, United Nations interns, and U.S. Senate members. “I have a mission to tell people that this should not happen again,” she shared during a Senate subcommittee testimony in 1980, conveying her worries for future generations.
Her death occurred shortly after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of atomic bomb survivors committed to eradicating nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, in the wake of the atomic bombing, young Shigeko was among those tasked with clearing the streets of Hiroshima. As she witnessed the dropping bomb from an aircraft—describing it as a "white thing falling from that airplane”—her life was irrevocably changed, leading her to a lifelong mission of advocacy and healing.
Despite her traumatic experiences, Ms. Sasamori spoke with compassion and resolve, discussing the impact of nuclear war on human health during her numerous speaking engagements that included students, United Nations interns, and U.S. Senate members. “I have a mission to tell people that this should not happen again,” she shared during a Senate subcommittee testimony in 1980, conveying her worries for future generations.
Her death occurred shortly after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of atomic bomb survivors committed to eradicating nuclear weapons. On August 6, 1945, in the wake of the atomic bombing, young Shigeko was among those tasked with clearing the streets of Hiroshima. As she witnessed the dropping bomb from an aircraft—describing it as a "white thing falling from that airplane”—her life was irrevocably changed, leading her to a lifelong mission of advocacy and healing.
