Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the search for the missing victims still continues, led by dedicated individuals who refuse to let history's most tragic moments be forgotten. Among them is Rebun Kayo, a researcher from Hiroshima University, who has been carrying out excavations on Ninoshima Island, a place that witnessed intense human suffering during and after the U.S. nuclear strike on August 6, 1945.

The attack on Hiroshima during World War II marked a turning point in global warfare—ushering in the nuclear age and leaving a lasting scar on humanity. It resulted in the instantaneous deaths of thousands, and many more succumbed in the days and weeks that followed due to radiation sickness, burns, and untreated injuries.

Ninoshima: The Island of Unrecorded Sorrows

Located just south of Hiroshima city, Ninoshima Island served as a quarantine and emergency care facility immediately after the bombing. The island, previously known for its peaceful rural lifestyle, suddenly became a refuge for the severely injured, many of whom had no chance of survival. Thousands were transported by military boats, originally designed for kamikaze (suicide) missions, and arrived on the island in devastating conditions—clothes burnt off, skin peeling, and suffering unimaginable pain.

As chaos reigned, medical personnel were overwhelmed, and supplies were scarce. Only a few hundred victims managed to survive after being brought to Ninoshima. According to PTI’s report citing historical accounts, mass burials became a tragic necessity, and many bodies were buried hastily across the island, without identification or ceremony.

Excavations Begin in Search of the Lost

Driven by the belief that “the war is not over until the missing are found”, Rebun Kayo began a mission in 2018 to recover the remains of those who perished anonymously on the island. His work focuses on a hilltop excavation site that was pointed out by a local resident. The elderly resident recalled his father watching soldiers bury bodies at the spot eight decades ago.

Since then, Kayo’s efforts have yielded nearly 100 bone fragments, some still identifiable, such as skull pieces and a child’s jawbone with teeth intact. The emotional weight of these discoveries has not been lost on him. “The little child buried here has been alone for all these years. It is just intolerable,” he remarked.

Unhealed Wounds and Lingering Questions

The Hiroshima atomic bombing remains one of history’s most devastating human-made disasters. It’s not just the physical landscape that was scarred—it’s the generations of families who were never able to recover the remains of their loved ones, and whose memories are riddled with unanswered questions.

For many survivors and their descendants, the lack of closure is a haunting reality. The search for remains on Ninoshima Island is not just an archaeological endeavor; it’s a humanitarian mission to give the dead a proper resting place and the living a sense of peace.

Kayo has repeatedly emphasized that until these remains are recovered and properly honored, "the war is not over" for those who lost their loved ones. His efforts are supported by a growing number of local volunteers, students, and historians, all of whom believe that truth and remembrance must prevail over time and silence.

A Timeline of Horror and Recovery

Just two hours after the bombing, victims began arriving at Ninoshima’s No. 2 Quarantine Center. But within hours, the facility was beyond its capacity. Dozens died en route, while others passed away on the island due to lack of medical attention. According to Hiroshima City’s official records, the Imperial Army was tasked with handling the deceased—cremating and burying them in makeshift graves across the island.

The island itself was not spared radiation contamination and had to be sealed off temporarily. Post-war cleanup efforts were slow and insufficient, and much of the burial data was lost or never documented properly, making today’s recovery efforts even more complicated.

Modern Challenges in Recovery Work

Kayo’s work is not without obstacles. The terrain has changed, vegetation has grown over potential burial sites, and in some cases, local memory is the only guide to where remains might lie. Ground-penetrating radar, manual digging, and oral histories are being used together in the hope of finding more human remains.

Despite his findings, Kayo remains deeply moved and humbled by the scale of the tragedy. He often speaks about the emotional burden of handling bones of individuals who never got the chance to live, especially children and infants, who were caught in the brutality of an era they could not understand.

Why This Work Still Matters Today

In today’s world, where nuclear threats and geopolitical tensions continue to rise, revisiting the horrors of Hiroshima is more relevant than ever. The recovery and remembrance efforts on Ninoshima serve as a poignant reminder of war’s brutal costs and the importance of peace.

Additionally, the process of recovering the missing is vital for historical accountability. It reinforces the need to properly document conflict casualties, protect civilian lives, and ensure truthful narratives about wartime events.

A Community’s Ongoing Role

While Kayo leads the scientific side of the excavation, local communities play a key role. Many residents have provided stories passed down through generations, guiding excavation teams to potential sites. Their commitment to honoring the past, combined with Kayo’s research, has created a powerful collective effort that bridges science, history, and humanity.

The people of Ninoshima, even 80 years later, feel deeply connected to those who died there. Their grief has been passed on, not just through memory, but through rituals, memorials, and now, action.

Conclusion

The story unfolding on Ninoshima Island is not just about death and destruction—it is about resilience, remembrance, and reconciliation. As Rebun Kayo continues to recover the forgotten victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, he reminds the world that behind every statistic is a human life worth remembering.

This pursuit of justice, no matter how delayed, affirms the unbreakable human spirit and our shared responsibility to confront and learn from the past.

Until every bone is recovered, every story told, and every soul honored, for the people of Hiroshima and Ninoshima—the war is not over.

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