Aug. 6 is a tragic anniversary for Notre Dame Sister Lucia Akie Aratani.

She was 10 years old when 500,000 of her townspeople died in the 1945 atomic bomb explosion.

In the aftermath of the trauma, which caused the death of her mother in 1951 of radiation-induced leukemia, she began a spiritual search and converted from Buddhism to the Catholic faith. Inspired by American nuns, she eventually became a Notre Dame sister. Sister Aratani, 67, currently teaches English, Bible studies and moral education at Notre Dame Seishin Junior College in Hiroshima.

She told Register correspondent Paul Burnell about the day she will never forget.

What are your memories of Aug. 6, 1945?

I saw a sheer blue light and the blackboard became blue lines. I heard a blast and then it became dark, black. We hid under our desks. All of the glass fell on us; there was black smoke and black dust all over the place. I wasn't injured.

My elder sister was 2 kilometers [1 and a quarter miles] from the epicenter. She saw the floor of the large post office open, heard a loud blast and everything went dark. She didn't know where to get out; she couldn't find the door — she was terrified. Then she found the staircase. She had been bleeding but she was not seriously injured. Our mother went back later that day and became contaminated.

The next day I saw many wounded people. I saw many burned people, many blackened and charred bodies; many bloodied people. All their hair was gone.

Many people were coming away from the center of the city either on the street or sheltering under the trees. All over the place there were burning and wounded people begging for water. We had no water because the city was burning and in the countryside there was no water left. The day after we passed through that place, all of the people were dead. On the street all over the place there were dead people.

I don't think of these things; I don't remember — I try to put it out of my mind.

Many people must feel the same way you do.

A sister who entered the order with me had a terrible, terrible experience as a 5-year-old. She had to carry the body of her dead mother. Then her father and her two brothers died. The sisters in our convent have never spoken to each other about their experiences. It is very difficult for them to talk.

Your mother and your family suffered as a result of the bomb. What feelings did you have toward the United States?

We don't have any feelings against the United States or any other country — we just feel sorry for Asia, the United States and Europe. During World War II our country went cuckoo; we were brainwashed to be cuckoo. After the war we were sorry. At the same time we were relieved — no more bombs.

We feared that when the Americans came they would kill us. We had been told to fight them to the death. We thought they would be like this. It was a big shock to find that the Americans who visited the country wanted to be friends, especially the missionary sisters who came from the United States.

Four years ago I was in England with a group of students who were learning English. I was asked to speak at an open-air service remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was very difficult for me to do it, but I am glad I did. I told the people I had a great mission to promote peace and justice.

Is it true American nuns who taught you in high school had a big influence on you?

Yes, the American nuns were a great influence on the students in Catholic schools in Japan. Now, our Notre Dame American nuns have gone back to their own country as they became old or sick. Although actually, I was influenced by a Jesuit priest to become Catholic and went to Catholic high school. It was there that I was influenced by Notre Dame nuns to become a Sister of Notre Dame.

What impelled you to the Catholic Faith?

We were very strong Buddhists, but I went to a mission school in junior high. Missionaries came from the United States. I found a spiritual home in the Catholic Church.

How did you become a nun?

In high school I became Catholic because of my experience with the missionary sisters. People had lost everything; we were looking for something different in life. The Notre Dame sisters were a big influence on me — it was a Notre Dame high school. At the end of high school, I wanted to be a sister. These sisters were so devoted to God. I found out there was another way of living instead of marrying and having a family. I realized I could influence more people if I gave my life to God.

What do you think when you see other nations in Asia arming themselves with nuclear weapons?

They are really stupid. They don't know the result of the experience that was the atom bomb. When the Holy Father came to Hiroshima in 1981, he prayed that God in his mercy would never allow “the destructive power of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs to be released on earth again.”

We are living at the turn of the 21st century, and this is one of the most significant periods in our history. I feel a great mission to pray and work for justice and peace in our world. I pray we will all strive for this.

Paul Burnell writes from Manchester, England.