A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb

by Glynn, Paul; Endo, Shusaku

• ISBN13: 9781586173432
• ISBN10: 158617343X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-30
• Publisher: Ignatius Press

Summary

"On August 9, 1945, an American B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, killing tens of thousands of people in the blink of an eye, while fatally injuring and poisoning thousands more. Among the survivors was Takashi Nagai, a pioneer in x-ray research and a convert to the Catholic Faith. Living in the rubble of the ruined city and suffering from leukemia caused by over-exposure to radiation, Nagai lived out the remainder of his remarkable life by bringing physical and spiritual healing to his war-weary people. A Song for Nagasaki tells the fascinating story of this extraordinary man, beginning with his boyhood and the heroic tales and stoic virtues of his family's Shinto religion. Mixed with interesting details about Japanese history and culture, the biography traces Nagai's spiritual quest as he studies medicine at Nagasaki University, serves as a medic with the Japanese army during its occupation of Manchuria, and returns to Nagasaki in order to dedicate himself to the science of radiology. The historic Catholic district of the city, where Nagai enters the Church and begins a family, ends up as ground zero for the atomic bomb. An Australian Marist priest who served as a missionary in Japan for twenty-five years, author Paul Glynn read Nagai's books in the original Japanese. He knew well some of Nagai's relatives, as well as other survivors of the atomic bomb. For his work in Japan, including his efforts to bring about post-war reconciliation, Fr. Glynn was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal."

Author Biography

Fr. Paul Glynn is a Marist priest Who served as a missionary in Japan for twenty-five years. He has written five other books including the Ignatius title Healing Fire of Christ

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 9
Calmness, the Number One Son	p. 13
Fireflies, Snow and a Lioness	p. 20
Kublai Khan, Tsune and Pascal	p. 26
The Mouse Who Could Not See the Stars	p. 37
'Tis an Ill Wind	p. 43
The Hidden Christians	p. 48
The Bells of Nagasaki	p. 58
Dew on a Morning Glory	p. 66
Silent Night and a Precious Life	p. 73
The Virgin and the Prostitute	p. 86
The Great Pan Is Dead	p. 95
At the Feet of a Janitor-Sensei	p. 100
White Australia and the Yellow Peril	p. 108
Typhoons and Graceful Bamboo	p. 116
A Christian Nenbutsu and the Dark Night	p. 125
Arrogant Heike Tumble	p. 134
The Machine That Turned on Its Master	p. 140
But Midori Will Be beside Me	p. 147
When the Sun Turned Black	p. 154
And the Rain Turned to Poison	p. 159
The Last Black Hole in the Universe?	p. 168
Talking Bones and a New Mantra	p. 172
High Noon, and a Nation Wept	p. 177
Not from Chance Our Comfort Springs	p. 185
The Parable of the Bare Hut	p. 196
The Little Girl Who Could Not Cry	p. 203
The Song of a Tokyo Leper	p. 215
The Bluebird Who Visited the Bear	p. 221
The Navel of the World	p. 231
Cherry Blossoms Fall on the Third Day	p. 241
For All That Has Been, Thanks; for All That Will Be, Yes	p. 249
Epilogue	p. 257
Glossary of Japanese Words	p. 262
Acknowledgments	p. 266
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