Authenticity is Everything
OT: Hiroshima Collection Complete (with autographs) 2013-2022
Hi All,
Here is my completed Hiroshima collection. It was formed around the plight of one man, Kiyoshi Kikkawa (1913-1987), who survived the bomb and spent years in the Red Cross Hospital where he endured 16 surgeries. He was used as a mascot by the press who dubbed him "Joe Kikkawa Atom Bomb Victim #1". He left the hospital citing poor medicine and worse food and lived under a bridge. Within a day of opening the first of his little postcard shops he earned enough money to buy rice for him and his wife. A far cry from boiled bamboo. As his fame grew he beame a Peace advocate and visited many stigmatized traumatized survivors who would not be seen in public, wearing out many pairs of shoes in the process according to his wife. He was instrumental in the saving of the Genbaku Dome as a memorial and donated many, many items to the Peace Museum.
He passed away in 1987.
Clicking 2 times will yield HUGE photographs - much detail.
In the first photograph is a pentagon shaped handmade souvenir plate painted by Kikkawa C. 1952. I know his handwriting. Behind is his signed and stamped autobiography. In front of that is a clear and wide photo of his last "K. Kikkawa's Atomic Souvenir Shop" C. 1953/54. To the bottom left of the plate is a fragment of blue and white porcelain that Kikkawa sold. In front is a unique snap of Kikkawa smiling - unlike the so many photographs of him baring his back keloid scars. By the right corner of the plate is a wire nut also from Kikkawa's shop with a flash fused sheetrock nail embedded in it. The wooden box was also made by Kikkawa - out of "Phoenix wood" (Paulownia). It is polychrome inside and out and decorated with the then-new International Atomic Symbol in the correct colors. I believe Kikkawa copied the cover of a certain book I have that he signed while still in the Red Cross Hospital (1946-1951/52). Also shown are a photo of Kikkawa with Gov. Earl Warren (upright, Warren with hat), a postcard bearing his vermillion stamp and a postcard with his signature in English and Japanese. Above is the roof tile that came in the wooden box. At bottom is a fine original photograph of the Genbaku Dome Building from 1953/54. To its right is part of a handmade wooden model of the Genbaku Dome (The Industrial Exhibition Hall built 1913) complete with touches from a blowtorch. Very proud of this item.
The second photo shows a detail of the left portion of this display. There is the souvenir plate shown very well - behind is a rare Press photograph from 1947 showing the extent of Kikkawa's injuries. That is his wife to his left. He is standing in front of a map of concentric circles - Hiroshima with blast effects. Shown better is the card with his personal stamp. The last line reads "A.B. No.1" - Atom Bomb Victim #1, the nickname given by the press. I have what appears to be an original Carl Myden's (LIFE) photograph of Kikkawa taken on the roof of the Red Cross Hospital, but too large for this case. The little snap is Kikkawa smiling. I have 4 candids in the Hospital but again - a bit too big. I'll find room for one.
The third photo shows the handmade wooden Dome model - the Dome is cast pot metal and likely slightly radioactive. Behind is one of the leaflets we did/did not drop. The artwork is stunning. The Reverse bears a message that basically says "Very soon. Leave". Remember this city was untouched so we could accurately gauge this bomb's effects without interference. We opened The Atomic Bomb Commission in Hiroshima to track illnesses but we never offered any help or meds, particularly with radiation, so as not to sway the experiment. To the right is a unique photograph of a window in one of the very few concrete reinforced buildings that remained standing. The glass melted down the wall "...like an icicle..." was how it was described to me. On the far right is a sample of such glass in a display box from the man who collected them (the rest are in museums/other collections from Germany to Australia) It is very very rare to have anything collected in 1945. I have all the paperwork to prove the date of collection. Behind the box is a color postcard of the Dome with blossoms from a 1950 brochure - a rather strange attempt at a Tourism Bureau considering what happened just 5 years earlier. 1950 is considered very early and this brochure has a very useful map that would change radically in just 3-4 years. Remember, these folks had a trolley up and running the next day.
The fourth photo shows the glass and card to advantage. In front of the boxed sample is a snapshot of the area - 2 temples, Kikkawa's shop and the Genbaku Dome. The next upright photo shows a ravaged mother and daughter. This is not unique but period and very rare. On the shelf are 4 more artifacts perhaps a little hard to make out. Lower left is metal aggregate from the Motoyasu River where it was melted and blown - still magnetic. The green glass is a partial flattened bottle with a rusted metal cap inside, then a bit of vitrified brick and a roof tile with its tell tale 2-tone surface (dark burnt and light unburnt). Behind that, shown upright, is the Dome as photographed at dusk by Yuichiro Sasaki in October of 1949. Original silver gelatin print produced by the Chugoku shim-bum newspaper (also in limited operation the next day). Next to the Sasaki print is an Omomori. This vintage C. 1955 traditional Japanese memorial piece is meant to hang in a home. These are said to provide good fortune, health, wealth, peace, love, academic or other success, virility, fertility, protection or happiness. They often depict or refer to everyday mundane matters but are regarded as ritually sacred and are said to hold Busshin (spiritual offshoots) in a Shinto context or Kesshin (spiritual manifestations) in a Buddhist context. They can take many forms - this one is a miniature traditional sandal called a geta decorated with the Genbaku Dome. Unusual to have as it is to be burned one year after acquisition in a ceremony at a temple. Of course, many were bought back by GI's. The translation is as folows:
原爆ドーム - Atomic bomb dome
広島 - Hiroshima
平和都市 - Peace city (in red)
The last 2 items standing are the very first packet of postcards on the left, published to show what had happened as it was hard to believe, and on the right the first packet of photographs, which are certainly not suitable to show here. In the very forground is a photo taken on the target bridge which shows a mans reverse shadow - his body used up the energy released by the bomb (total incineration in 1/10 of a second or much less) in the initial flash leaving a "shadow" of unburnt pavement where he stood. Unfortunately it is out of focus here. His shoes are outlined in chalk.
I hope you enjoy the colletion. Much deliberation went into it - all artifacts (slightly radioactive) about the same size, some color, all early materials and very good eye appeal just like selecting a signed LP. The leaflet and packets have wonderful artwork as you can see. Condition is hard due to rarity - very few upgrades for anything. Not shown is a complete candid photographic record of Kikkawa including him signing the autobiograhy above (small snap - must work in), signed books, and color 35mm slides including 2 of Kikkawa. Then there is additional material concerning the Dome; original photographs, postcards, slides and more. Thanks for reading! :)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on
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Bump for the History buffs and science guys and gals.
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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on
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Interesting collection, Eric. If you don't mind me asking, what lead you to collect items on this specific topic?
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Hi Joe, thanks. Glad you found it interesting.
I was first bitten by this particular bug when I found, at a paper show, the first edition of one of the books Kikkawa sold. About twenty years passed and I again became interested which led to learning of Kikkawa, buying, selling and building my collection as well as those of others. Now, with that painted plate by Kikkawa and the new photographs, I'm done. I've much to sell, including a tile!
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Exactly. That is what I collect - no interest in war. KK took a very bad situation and made the best of it while standing on blacked ground. The "phoenix" wood used for the box - the story of a wonderous bird rising from it own ashes. Very symbolic. Hiroshima is largely run on nuclear power now.
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