Setsuko Thurlow was born on January 3rd,1932, in Hiroshima, Japan. This interview focuses on her experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II and her lifelong advocacy for abolition of nuclear weapons. She describes her family background and childhood in Hiroshima, explaining how the war intervened in daily life. As a teenager, she was mobilized for military work including farmwork and factory work. She speaks in depth about the day of the bombing and its aftermath on the city, her family, and her community. She then discusses her life in Toronto, where she studied social work at the University of Toronto and worked in social services to help Japanese immigrant families adjust to moving. She also speaks about her nuclear abolition work, including the establishment of the Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square, speaking at the UN, and receiving the Order of Canada.
Please note that this interview contains disturbing and graphic details regarding the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.