The people of Hiroshima had to suffer more than just physical pain, they had to endure tragic devastation. The survivors cope with destruction and immense negative emotions, but find hope where they can. The decision to use the atomic bomb has been a moral topic since its creation, but one thing was definite; it was created to destroy. The topic to others can still be debated, but to the people of Hiroshima there is only pain.

Destruction was everywhere. The buildings, land, homes, and the whole city was in ruins. The atomic bomb left the people homeless with nothing left standing. The city was gone as well as the land around it. The pressure and impact of the bomb was enough to annihilate the surrounding area and take the lives of many. Medics have reported many casualties due to various factors of the atomic bomb’s impact. This left news of lost family and/or friends. Psychiatrists of Nagaski University, Okumura and Hikita reported observations of psychiatric effects from the bomb. The most common psychological illnesses include insomnia, depression, interpersonal dysfunction, anergia and social dysfunction, and anhedonia. Each of these factors have effected how the people are coping and surviving mentally. The destruction of their homes and loved ones lead to negative feelings and fear.

               The feelings created from the common psychological illnesses was fear. Survivors aware of their illnesses and medical situation fear for themselves. Anxiety comes with insomnia which can lead to loss of confidence. Psychologists and neuroscientists have found that lack of confidence results in vulnerability. The survivors have become aware of danger. The atomic bomb’s impact couldn’t have been predicted by the civilians, realization of unpredictable dangers results in vulnerability to trauma. According to The New York Times, there are three hundred seventy thousand victims who share the burden of witnessing the traumatic attack. Trauma from witnessing the impact and result of the bomb has made many survivors fear the most for their families.  Many victims exposed to radiation fear that their offspring will inherit their misfortune. There have been no scientific proof that the radiation’s effect can be inherited by a future child but the fear has lived with the bomb survivors. The manifested fear from destruction have broken the people, but people were not the only survivors, hope was found in other forms of a survivor.

               The people of Hiroshima have suffered so much destruction and fear, but hope survived the attack as well. The survivors found hope in both physical beings and spiritual beliefs. The atomic bomb’s impact was believed to have destroyed everything in its path with the pressure, impact, or radiation. But there is proof of a surviving tree called ‘Hibaku Jumoku,’ The A-Bombed Tree that Survived Hiroshima. There is no scientific explanation why or how this tree survived, but it is a symbol of hope for the Japanese. Not only did the Hibaku Jumoku survive the atomic bomb, it defied scientific predictions. Scientists stated that nothing in the area would grow for seventy-five years, but the following spring new sprouts emerged.  This tree’s survival and sprouts symbolize hope to live on. The Hibaku Jumoku is an example of physical hope, the Japanese have had to find spiritual hope as well.

               There have been stories of victims and their journey before death, theses served as spiritual hope for the Japanese. One story consists of a little girl and her belief in wishes. The little girl had leukemia as a result of surviving the atomic bomb attack in Hiroshima. She believed that folding one thousand paper cranes would grant her a wish. Sadly she passed away finishing only six hundred forty four paper cranes. However, the friends and family of this little girl finished the rest of the cranes for her and buried them with her. In honor of her pure spirit to live, a statue of her and a golden crane was constructed.The little girl's name was Sadako Sasaki. This story and statue stands as a reminder of spiritual hope for the Japanese to join as a community and get through the tragic event. Hope is a precious element for the Japanese people, but why did they even need to find this hope? The atomic bomb has caused so much long-term pain that strong hope must also be found.