Nekohachi Edoya

Nekohachi Edoya, affectionately known as "Edo Neko," was a talented impressionist and actor who was affiliated with the Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai (Rakugo Art Association). He was born on October 1, 1921, and his real name was Roku-ro Okada, a name given due to being the sixth son. His legacy left a lasting impact on the world of entertainment. During the tragic events of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, Nekohachi was just 23 years old and serving in the Japanese Army's Naval Artillery Regiment No. 1 (Dawn 2953 Unit) stationed in Ujina, which is now part of Minami Ward in Hiroshima City. He held the position of Corporal Rokuro Okada. On that fateful morning, he had plans to meet with actress Keiko Sonoi, an acquaintance from the traveling theater group "Sakura-tai," in Hiroshima. Unfortunately, after winning a vocal mimicry competition the previous day, he had indulged in the prize of alcohol, leading to a hangover that caused him to oversleep and miss the meeting. It was shortly after being roused from sleep by a subordinate private that he found himself thrust into the midst of the atomic bombing. (Incidentally, Sonoi was lodging near the hypocenter during the bombing and was exposed to the blast. She later evacuated to Kobe, but she sadly succumbed to atomic bomb-related illnesses on August 21, 1945.) Nekohachi's regiment was positioned in Ujina, a location over 3 km away from the hypocenter, resulting in less immediate impact from the bombing. He received orders from his superior to assess the extent of the damage near the Okihashi Bridge and communicate with the Fukiyama Naval Artillery Battalion headquarters in Hijiyama-cho. This was his first encounter with the devastating aftermath of the bombing. Subsequently, he was mobilized as part of the Dawn Unit to provide relief and medical assistance within the city. His exposure to residual radiation in the city led to persistent health issues that he grappled with throughout his life, attributed to secondary radiation exposure. The deeply traumatic nature of Nekohachi's experiences during the bombing and his subsequent involvement in relief efforts and medical work caused him to remain silent about these events for many years. However, in later years, he courageously documented his personal encounter with the bombing in works like "Soldier's Life and Pikadon" (兵隊ぐらしとピカドン) and "The Cat that Crawled out of the Mushroom Cloud" (キノコ雲から這い出した猫). It's noteworthy that Maruyama Masao, a historian and thinker, also experienced the atomic bombing as a member of the Dawn Unit, serving in the headquarters. 3rd Generation Edoya Nekohachi was renowned for his remarkable vocal mimicry abilities and acting prowess. His association with the Rakugo Art Association marked a significant contribution to the entertainment industry. His influence and legacy continue to thrive through his family members who have followed in his footsteps. (Source: Wikipedia Japan "江戸家猫八 (3代目)”)

江户家猫八，被亲切地称为“江户猫”，是一位才华横溢的印象派画家和演员，隶属于落语艺术协会。他出生于1921年10月1日，真名是冈田六郎，这个名字是由于他是第六个儿子而得名的。他的留下的作品对娱乐界产生了持久的影响。 在1945年8月6日广岛原子弹爆炸的悲剧事件中，年仅23岁的猫八在驻扎在宇品的日本陆军海军炮兵第1团（黎明2953部队）服役，宇品现在是广岛市南区的一部分。他担任过冈田六郎下士的职位。在那个命中注定的早晨，他计划在广岛与女演员园乃惠子见面，她是巡回剧团“樱台”的熟人。不幸的是，在前一天赢得声乐模仿比赛后，他沉迷于酒精奖品，导致宿醉，导致他睡过头并错过了会议。在被一名下属士兵从睡梦中唤醒后不久，他发现自己被推入了原子弹爆炸中。顺便说一句，园乃在轰炸期间住在爆炸中心附近，并暴露在爆炸中。她后来疏散到神户，但不幸的是，她于1945年8月21日死于与原子弹相关的疾病。 猫八的团位于距离爆炸中心3公里多的宇品，因此轰炸的直接影响较小。他接到上级的命令，评估冲桥附近的损坏程度，并与比治山町的吹山海军炮兵营总部进行沟通。这是他第一次遇到轰炸的毁灭性后果。随后，他作为黎明部队的一员被动员起来，在城市内提供救济和医疗援助。他在城市中暴露于残余辐射导致他一生都在努力解决持续的健康问题，这归因于二次辐射暴露。 猫八在轰炸期间的经历以及他随后参与的救援工作和医疗工作所造成的深刻创伤性，导致他多年来对这些事件保持沉默。然而，在后来的几年里，他勇敢地在《士兵的生活与皮卡顿》和《从蘑菇云中爬出来的猫》等作品中记录了他个人与轰炸的遭遇。值得注意的是，历史学家和思想家丸山正雄也作为黎明部队的一员在总部服役，经历了原子弹爆炸。 第三代江户家猫八以其非凡的声音模仿能力和表演能力而闻名。他与落语艺术协会的合作标志着他对娱乐业的重大贡献。他的影响力和遗产通过追随他脚步的家庭成员继续蓬勃发展。