"Black Rain" by Masuji Ibuse

The main characters of the "Black Rain" novel are: (uncle) Shizuma, (aunt) Shigeko, (and their neice) Yasuko. In the beginning of the novel Yasuko attempts to attain a family-arrainged marriage. On 8/15/45 she renegs on her commitment of getting married by disclosing to her partner that she has radiation sickness. Her symptoms are: high temperatures, boils, and a loss of hair. Yasuko initially suffered from the radiation sickness known as the "Black Rain".

The United States justified the bombing of Hiroshima due to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor-HI. The U.S. knew beforehand that the Japanese were on the verge of surrender before they dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. 8/6/45 was the date that the U.S. dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. The impact of the Atomic Bombing on the Japanese citizens of Hiroshima caused them horrendous and inhumane suffering. The Japanese Doctors had no knowledge in medically treating victims of radiation sicknesses/illnesses. Of the one hundred and ninety doctors who had been in Hiroshima before the bomb was dropped, more than one hundred and twenty had died. During this time period the known symptoms for radiation sickness were: shedding and burnt skin, vomitting, and dysentery etc..

After the bomb had dropped Shizuma searches then finds his place of employment (the factory). After this he reports to Mr. Fujita who is the Factory Manager. The factory manager orders Shizuma to burn the dead bodies of the factory workers. He also orders Shizuma to preach to the deceased families the "sermon on mortality". The sermon on mortality are prayers for the Japanese dead.

In conclusion, "Black Rain" is a novel that describes a dark and inhuman period of human history. The "Journal of the Bombing" is Shizuma's eyewitness and personal account of the human suffering that was caused by the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima.