Shigeko Sasamori, Hiroshima Survivor and Peace Advocate, Passes Away at 92

Shigeko Sasamori, a Hiroshima survivor who advocated for peace even after enduring the devastating effects of the atomic bomb, died peacefully at her home in California at the age of 92.

Shigeko Sasamori, who suffered severe burns at the tender age of 13 due to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, passed away on December 15, 2024, in Marina del Rey, California. Her son, Norman Cousins Sasamori, confirmed her death. Throughout her life, Sasamori became a powerful voice against nuclear weapons and shared her harrowing experiences with a wide range of audiences, including students, United Nations interns, and U.S. Senate members.

Decades after the bombing on August 6, 1945, she remained resolute in her mission to inform people about the potential horrors of nuclear warfare. In 1980, while testifying before a Senate subcommittee on the health effects of nuclear war, she expressed her hopes for future generations, stating, “I fear for them,” as she described the trauma suffered by young victims of the atomic bomb.

Her passing occurred shortly after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organization dedicated to supporting atomic bomb survivors and promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons. Sasamori's commitment to peace and her advocacy were unprecedented, reflecting her belief in the urgent need to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.