Shigeko Sasamori

Shigeko Sasamori
笹森恵子
Born	Shigeko Niimoto (1932-06-16)June 16, 1932 Hiroshima, Empire of Japan
Died	December 15, 2024(2024-12-15) (aged 92) Marina del Rey, California, U.S.
Occupation	Nurse's aide
Known for	Peace advocacy
Children	1

Shigeko Sasamori (笹森恵子; née Niimoto; June 16, 1932 – December 15, 2024) was a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and an advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament. After receiving reconstructive surgeries in the United States, she pursued a career as a nurse's aide and shared her experiences to educate others about the consequences of nuclear warfare.

Early life and education

Sasamori was born on June 16, 1932, in Hiroshima, Japan, to Masayuki Niimoto, an oyster fisherman, and Sato Tanabe Niimoto, a homemaker​. On August 6, 1945, at the age of 13, she survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki while working to clear debris from the city streets​​. She was approximately two miles from the bomb's hypocenter and suffered severe burns on over a quarter of her body, including her face, chest, arms, and hands​​. Following the explosion, her parents found her after several days and cared for her injuries at home using makeshift treatments​.

In 1955, she was selected as one of 25 young women, later known as the "Hiroshima Maidens," to travel to the United States for reconstructive surgeries arranged by Norman Cousins, a journalist and peace activist​​​. She underwent multiple operations at Mount Sinai Hospital, which improved her appearance and functionality, though her scars remained visible​. During her time in the United States, she lived primarily with the family of Norman Cousins in Connecticut​.

Career

After her reconstructive surgeries, Sasamori returned briefly to Japan but later relocated to the United States. She continued her education and trained as a nurse's aide in the late 1960s​. During her nursing career, she cared for patients, including newborns and individuals with debilitating conditions such as Parkinson's disease​.

Sasamori shared her experiences as a survivor of the atomic bombing and advocating for nuclear disarmament​. She addressed audiences in schools, international organizations, and legislative settings, including a U.S. Senate subcommittee in 1980, where she described the health impacts of nuclear war​. She participated in documentaries, such as Race to Oblivion (1982) and White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2007), to further awareness about the consequences of nuclear warfare​.

She was also involved with Hibakusha Stories, a program aimed at educating young people about the effects of nuclear weapons through first-hand survivor testimonies​.

Personal life

Sasamori was spiritually adopted by the Cousins family during her time in the United States, an arrangement described as a "moral adoption."​ In 1962, she gave birth to her son, whom she named Norman Cousins Sasamori, honoring her connection with the Cousins family​.

She spent her later years in Marina del Rey, California, and remained active in peace advocacy until death there on December 15, 2024, at the age of 92​. Her death came shortly after the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors​.