Takashi Nagai

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Takashi Nagai (永井隆 Nagai Takashi, 1908-1951) was a medical doctor, a convert to Catholicism, and a victim of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. His sentimental and religious take on the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, excogitated throughout his various writings on that city's atomic experience, earned him the affectionate title of the "Saint of Urakami" even before his death in 1951.

At the time of the atomic bombing on 9 August, 1945, Nagai Takashi was working in the radiology department of Nagasaki University Hospital. He received a serious injury to his right temple, but was able to overcome his condition to provide relief efforts for Nagasaki's victims. For fifty-eight days following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, until 8 October, 1945, Nagai and several of his comrades from the hospital worked diligently treating the seemingly endless numbers of atomic-bomb victims (hibakusha 被爆者) of Nagasaki. Shortly after, Nagai collapsed as a result of the leukemia he had contracted while working as a radiologist for several years. He self-diagnosed his terminal condition in June of 1945, and in collaboration with a fellow radiologist predicted that he had three years to live.

Although Nagai became bed-ridden as his leukemia worsened, he resolved to use the parts of his body that could still work (i.e. his hands, head, and heart) to spread the words of love and peace. With these he produced several articles and fifteen books related to the atomic bombings and world peace before he died in 1951. The many works of Nagai Takashi enjoyed a large readership during the American Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) because they were the most published and provided a rare source of information about the atomic bombings. Nagai's popularity as an atomic-bomb experience lexicographer with a sentimental and religious character led him to be called in his own lifetime the "Saint of Urakami" (also "Saint of Nagasaki"), and his works continue to maintain their popularity as atomic-bomb literature even today.

Nagai Takashi's books have been translated into numerous languages, including Chinese, Korean, French, and German. There are only two of his works currently available in English translation: We of Nagasaki (a compilation of atomic-bomb victim testimonies edited by Nagai) and The Bells of Nagasaki (trans., William Johnston).

The motif of Nagai Takashi's works can be summed up by using one of his own locutions: Grant us peace! (平和を heiwa wo).