On the night of March 10, 1945, a catastrophic event unfolded over Tokyo. More than 100,000 individuals lost their lives in a single night during a U.S. firebombing raid targeting the Japanese capital. The assault utilized conventional explosives and wrought such devastation on the city center that it left the streets littered with charred remains.
The level of destruction matched the atomic bombings that would occur later in August 1945. However, the Japanese government has provided no assistance to survivors of this attack, and the incident has remained largely overlooked over the years.
Now, elderly survivors are making fervent efforts to share their experiences and seek acknowledgment and financial support. Some are speaking out for the first time to ensure that younger generations learn from the past. Among these is Shizuyo Takeuchi, 94, who recalls at the age of 14 witnessing horrors she feels compelled to share, honoring the memories of those who perished.
As the firebombing took place, hundreds of B-29s began their assault, releasing cluster bombs filled with napalm, a substance made to engulf the traditional wooden and paper houses that populated Tokyo’s busy “shitamachi” neighborhoods in flames. Takeuchi and her family had initially lost their home in a previous attack in February and were sheltered with relatives near a river at the time. Her father’s decision to flee against the crowd’s direction inadvertently saved their lives. Walking through the night under an eerie red sky, she was haunted by the scenes of devastation.
Come dawn, amid the ashes, blackened figures caught Takeuchi’s eye. Closer inspection revealed a woman, and nearby, what appeared coal was her infant. Overcome with horror initially, she soon found her ability to feel numbed by the sheer scale of the tragedy.
Many who did not perish in the flames drowned in the Sumida River or were trampled. The estimated death toll for that night reached over 105,000, rendering a million people homeless—a number surpassing those killed by the Nagasaki atomic bomb.
Historically, the Tokyo firebombing has been overshadowed by the atomic bombings of later months. Other Japanese cities experienced similar devastations from firebombings but these events hang even lower in the public consciousness.
Now, Ai Saotome continues her late father’s mission. Her father, Katsumoto Saotome, was both a survivor and an influential writer who documented peer testimonies in efforts to highlight civilian casualties and advocate for peace. Ai, amid organizing his work for digitization at the Center of Tokyo Raids and War Damage, acknowledges the imperative role of remembering these narratives for future generations. She emphasizes the importance of hearing and preserving these stories.
Simultaneously, survivors are still battling for recognition and financial redress. Although postwar government aid has supported military families and atomic bombing survivors, civilian firebombing victims remain neglected. Their demands for reparations, which courts previously rejected, are being renewed amidst the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Yumi Yoshida, who suffered personal losses during the raid, fears this may be the final opportunity to achieve justice.
Reiko Muto survived the March 10 assault, recalled the ominous sounds of air raid sirens while she was on duty. She remembers the panic that led her to assist in moving infants to safety and the influx of the injured into the hospital’s sanctuary. Haunting memories of burned skins and cries for help plagued her long after.
Post-war, a sense of relief accompanied the cessation of bombings, allowing Muto to embrace the normalcy of leaving lights on. She pursued a nursing career, vowing against the repetition of such horror for future generations.
