The Bells of Nagasaki
Cover of the 1976 Japanese edition | |
| Author | Takashi Nagai |
|---|---|
| Original title | Nagasaki no Kane |
| Translator | William Johnston |
| Language | Japanese, English |
| Genre | Non-fiction Essay |
| Publisher | Kodansha International |
Publication date | January 1949 |
| Publication place | Japan, United States |
Published in English | 1984 |
| Media type | Book, Music, Film |
| Pages | 118 |
| ISBN | 978-4-7700-1845-8 |
The Bells of Nagasaki (長崎の鐘, Nagasaki no Kane) is a 1949 book by Takashi Nagai. It vividly describes his experiences as a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. It was translated into English by William Johnston. The title refers to the bells of Urakami Cathedral, of which Nagai writes:
These are the bells that did not ring for weeks or months after the disaster. May there never be a time when they do not ring! May they ring out this message of peace until the morning of the day on which the world ends.
Initially, the book was refused publication by the American forces occupying Japan, until an appendix was added describing Japanese atrocities in the Philippines. This appendix was later removed.