80 Years After Tragic Firebombing: Tokyo Survivors Demand Justice and Compensation for Lost Lives

TOKYO (AP) — Eighty years ago, on the night of March 10, 1945, over 100,000 lives were lost in Tokyo due to a devastating U.S. firebombing. This attack ravaged the city, leaving it in ruins and streets filled with fallen victims.

While the atomic bombings that occurred later in August drew widespread attention, the firebombing has been overshadowed and often forgotten. Victims of this tragic night have received little support from the government, and many survivors are now reaching out to share their stories as a final effort to seek recognition and aid.

Shizuyo Takeuchi, 94, remembers the horrors of that night vividly. At just 14 years old, she witnessed unimaginable scenes that still haunt her, making her feel a duty to amplify the voices of those who perished.

That Fateful Night

On March 10, 1945, hundreds of B-29 bombers descended upon Tokyo. They unleashed incendiary bombs, designed to incinerate the wooden structures typical in the city. Takeuchi’s family had already lost their home in a previous attack and sought refuge by the river. Her father’s instinct to move away from the crowds helped save them that night.

Under a sky stained red from the destruction, Takeuchi recalls the chilling moment she encountered two charred figures. A woman lay lifeless, her baby cradled beside her. This image stays with her, reflecting the reality of war’s brutal consequences. Many who survived the fires leapt into the Sumida River, only to face drowning or crushing despair.

Estimates suggest that over 105,000 people died that night, with around a million more left homeless. This tragic toll even surpassed that of the Nagasaki atomic bombing a few months later.

The Silent Suffering

While the atomic bombings received extensive coverage, the story of the firebombing remains largely untold. After the U.S. strategically took control of key areas in the Pacific, they gained the ability to launch these devastating air raids on Japan, exacerbating an already brutal war.

Ai Saotome recently took on the task of preserving her father’s legacy. Katsumoto Saotome, a survivor and writer, dedicated his life to documenting the experiences of firebombing victims. Although he aimed to educate younger generations about the tragedies of war, Ai feels there is still a disconnect between past and present.

She is working to digitize her father’s notes and materials at the Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, a museum devoted to the memory of the firebombing and its victims. “Our generation has a responsibility to record these stories,” she says, emphasizing the importance of keeping the past alive.

A Call for Recognition and Support

To this day, survivors of the firebombing have received no monetary assistance, unlike the support provided to victims of the atomic bombings. Recently, survivors gathered to advocate for their struggles and push for financial aid from the government.

Despite their pleas, courts have dismissed compensation claims, arguing that citizens should endure hardships during wartime situations. Although a proposed one-time payment was drafted by lawmakers, it has not progressed due to internal disagreements.

“This year is crucial,” Yumi Yoshida, who lost her family, expressed during a meeting, highlighting the significance of the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end.

Personal Testimonies of Survival

On that harrowing night, Reiko Muto was a young nursing student, rushing to save infants amidst the chaos. As patient after patient flooded into the hospital, she faced a horrific scene filled with burns and desperate cries. The trauma of those screams and the smell of scorched skin has stayed with her for decades.

After the war ended, Muto found hope in a future without firebombings. She continued her nursing career, believing that the horrors she witnessed should never recur. “What we experienced should never be repeated,” she asserts, reflecting the sentiments shared by many survivors.