Shinichi Tetsutani (3 years, 11 months) was riding his tricycle when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima at 08:15 on August 6th 1945. Shinichi’s mother found him near his tricycle, suffering from severe burns and other injuries. He died that night.
Shinichi’s two sisters - Michiko (7) and Yoko (1) - had been trapped under their house and burned to death, so his parents could not face cremating him and decided to bury him with his tricycle in their garden, so he could ride it even after his death. 40 years later his father decided to move his son’s remains to the family gravesite and donated the tricycle to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where it has been on display since 1991.
Treasured by the citizens of Hiroshima, Shinichi’s tricycle leaves a lasting impression on visitors from around the world and serves as a symbol of hope and resilience.
“This should never happen to children. Please work to create a peaceful world where children can play to their heart’s content.”
- Nobuo Tetsutani, Shinichi’s father
Photo: Courtesy of Courtesy: Nobuo Tetsutani