Tears flow endlessly. Repeated apologies… A video of the scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb testifying about a private meeting with a survivor of the bomb was preserved. The truth was revealed, as if guided by the Academy Award-winning film “Oppenheimer.”

The scene the interpreter saw 60 years ago

It has come to light that Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist known as the father of the atomic bomb, met privately with victims of the atomic bomb in 1964, 19 years after the bombing, to apologize to them, and a video of his testimony has been made public. The video was filmed in 2015 and is kept by the non-profit organization World Friendship Center. The person who gave the testimony was the late Yoko Teichler, who served as an interpreter at the time.

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“Mr Oppenheimer was in tears and just kept saying sorry, sorry, sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Oppenheimer was a scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. After the war, he came to Japan in 1960, but never visited Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing.

Four years later, in 1964, 25 survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki traveled to eight countries around the world, including the United States, to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Documents showing a private meeting with Oppenheimer on this occasion remain at the Wilmington University Peace Resource Center. The late Yoko Teichler, who was present as an interpreter, described the situation at the time as “he deeply regretted having developed nuclear weapons at all.”

The release of the film raises awareness of the “importance of the testimony”

The existence of a video testifying nine years ago about an event that occurred 60 years ago. Why has it come to light now?

Shizuo Tachibana, chairman of the nonprofit organization World Friendship Center, explained the reason for releasing the testimony video at this time, saying, “Even the interpreter, Ms. Teichler, did not realize the seriousness of the matter at the time. Ultimately, I think it all comes down to the fact that Oppenheimer’s film was released.”

The film “Oppenheimer” was released in Japan in March 2024. It depicts the life of a scientist and the behind-the-scenes story of the development of the atomic bomb. It won seven Academy Awards and attracted attention. In the film, Oppenheimer expresses intense regret over the development of nuclear weapons.

Screenings of the film are still ongoing in Hiroshima, three months after its release, and it is a film that has generated great interest among Hiroshima residents.

How to interpret the fact of the “apology”

In addition, Oppenheimer’s grandson, Charles Oppenheimer, came to Japan to give a lecture and film a documentary, and visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka-ku, Hiroshima on June 1st.

Charles also met with A-bomb survivor Keiko Ogura, who told him, “It is important for the general public to clearly understand the clear difference between conventional weapons and nuclear weapons.”

As they were leaving, Charles wrote a message in Ogura’s notebook saying, “I hope the world will become a more peaceful place.”

Charles later held a press conference in Tokyo, where he appealed to a world in a state of ongoing conflict, saying, “Now is the time to listen to the advice of Robert Oppenheimer. If we hadn’t had an arms race, we would not be in the situation we are in now, where we are exposed to the dangers of nuclear weapons.”

In 2024, 79 years after the atomic bombing, the remarks of the “father of the atomic bomb” are drawing renewed attention. Chairman Tachibana said, “It is significant that people know the fact that Oppenheimer met with the victims and said, ‘I’m sorry.’ How to interpret that is something that each person who learns of the fact must consider. I think this will be an opportunity to think about what we think about a national apology.”

In reality, it was not a “national apology,” but rather an “apology from the people to the people” by Oppenheimer and the atomic bombing victims, but the question is how to think about the fact that it was made.
Some survivors believe that “there is an apology, there is reconciliation, and there is a future,” while others believe that “enough is enough. Let’s focus on the future.” As Chairman Tachibana said, it is important for each individual to think. As the world situation becomes more tense, we must continue to speak out to prevent another Hiroshima or Nagasaki from happening.

(Shin-Hiroshima Television)