By Edurne Morillo
Hiroshima, Japan, (EFE).- As the number of atomic bomb survivors dwindles nearly 80 years after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, artificial intelligence is emerging as a key tool to preserve their stories for future generations.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK has launched an innovative project using artificial intelligence to ensure the memory of hibakusha, atomic bomb survivors, does not fade.
The “Hibakusha Testimony Simulator” allows users to ask survivors questions via a microphone and receive realistic answers displayed on a high-definition screen.
“As a public broadcaster based in Hiroshima, we thought seriously about how to preserve survivor memories in a future without hibakusha,” said Seiko Ikuta, a content producer at NHK, during a press trip organized by Japan’s Foreign Press Center (FPCJ).
Ikuta explained that although many traditional video testimonies exist, they are one-sided and struggle to hold attention.
“We wanted to create something interactive, where people could ask questions and receive answers. That makes the experience feel more real.”
Unlike generative AI tools, this system uses a database of about 900 recorded responses.
When a user asks a question, keywords are identified and matched to the most relevant pre-recorded answer, simulating a live conversation.
Survivor’s voice lives on through technology
Currently, the simulator features only one survivor: a 94-year-old woman named Yoshiko Kajimoto.
At the time of the bombing, she was working in a munitions factory just 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) from the hypocenter.
Although hesitant at first, Kajimoto agreed to participate, recognizing the urgency of sharing her story.
“Eighty years have passed. Many who suffered from the bomb and the war have died. Only a few of us elderly survivors remain,” she told EFE. “That’s why I want to share the tragedy and how hard it was with as many people as possible.”
Kajimoto knows that by the 90th anniversary, few, if any, survivors will still be alive. “All I hope is that my message reaches as many people as it can,” she added.
This approach marks a shift from passive exhibits at Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s Peace Museums.
By inviting users to lead the exchange, the AI tool fosters a deeper, more active form of listening, say its creators.
Survivors’ numbers in sharp decline
Japan’s Ministry of Health reported in July that the number of registered ‘hibakusha’ had dropped below 100,000 for the first time since records began.
As of March, 99,230 survivors remained, 7,965 fewer than the previous year.
The average age of atomic bomb survivors has also risen, reaching 86.13 years, up from 85.58 the year before.
The figures highlight the increasing urgency to preserve their voices as living witnesses to one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Through AI, projects like NHK’s hope to keep these voices alive, not just as historical records, but as emotional connections that educate and inspire future generations. EFE
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