Teruko Blair

Today we remember Teruko Murimoto, a Japanese teenager who survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. After 1945, she married, became Teruko Blair. She never forgot the day back in Japan when she first had serious misgivings about her country’s involvement in the War.

Teruko Blair — If you’re doing that to our own people, what would they do when going to overseas?

Teruko Blair audio file (MP4 23.95 MB)

Teruko Blair audio script

75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

Audio actuality

“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” — The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia

On the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, Australia remembers Teruko Murimoto, a Japanese teenager who survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. After 1945, she married, became Teruko Blair, and later moved to Canberra.

But she never forgot the day back in Japan when she first had serious misgivings about her country’s involvement in the War.

Teruko Blair

I witnessed once a young soldier — he didn’t have a chance to salute superior in the street. He must have been watching something and he didn’t see sergeant walking towards this way. Oh, he was bashed brutally … he bashed.

I had a bad feeling towards military. If you’re doing that to our own people, what would they do when going to overseas? The fear started growing in my mind, but I’m not allowed to say anything like that. So I just kept to myself, but I always feel it in my mind.

This was very scary thing to witness — young soldier, innocent-looking soldier, was bashed so badly.

Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.