Pupils Engage in Poignant Interview with Survivor of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb

On 29^th January four Down High School pupils interviewed and recorded Nobuko Pollock, a survivor from the devastating A-Bomb attack on Nagasaki on 9th August 1945. The pupils listened intently as Nobuko shared her account of that terrifying day. Nobuko, who has lived in Belfast for many years, was just thirteen when the bomb dropped. Although she indeed survived, her brother was closer to the epicentre and tragically died in the explosion. Nobuko recalled: “My brother didn’t come home that night. I can remember my mother and then my grandfather going to look for him. We simply didn’t know whether he was dead or not”. While this was a difficult testimony for the pupils to listen to, and attempt to comprehend, there was much appreciation in being able to have the opportunity to engage with a survivor from an historic tragedy of such magnitude.

Pictured (left to right) are Channon Heenan, Ellen Johnston, Nobuko Pollock, Sarah Carlisle and Tori Marks. Year 10 History students learn about the Atomic Bomb in class.