The atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, is less well known that the bombing of Hiroshima three days earlier, for several reasons. Because it was first, Hiroshima has become synonymous with the terror of atomic warfare. The casualties at Hiroshima were higher. And Hiroshima has received most of the long-term media and historical coverage, whether in print (John Hersey's Hiroshima), anime (Barefoot Gen, Kuroi Ame ni Utarete, Kuro ga Ita Natsu), or movies. The 2005 anime movie Nagasaki 1945: Angelus no Kane (Nagasaki 1945: The Angelus Bell) seeks to tell the less well known story of Nagasaki's ordeal.
Like most accounts of historic horrors, Nagasaki 1945: Angelus no Kane is told from the viewpoint of a survivor. The main character, Dr. Akizuki Tatsuichirou, is the lead medico at St. Francis Hospital, a converted Christian religious institution. The hospital is just far enough (1.4 km) from ground zero to be spared immediate destruction, although it catches fire and becomes unusable. Akizuki and his staff are able to get the patients out of the burning building and to relative safety. However, in the aftermath, many patients, as well as survivors who reached the hospital from the city, die of burns or from massive doses of radiation. Shortages of medications, and lack of treatments for radiation poisoning, lead to steadily mounting casualties and declining morale. Finally, a massive typhoon on September 16 washes much of the radioactive fallout out of the air and the radioactive ash off the ruins, bringing some relief to the devastated city.
Nagasaki 1945 tells its story calmly, without anger, but with a mounting sense of despair. (Indeed, the only time Dr. Akizuki shows visible anger is when the head of the local association - basically, a government informer and enforcer - comes by with a cock-and-bull story about Japan dropping atomic bombs on America.) The hospital staff gamely tries to carry on, initially helped by the discovery of a small cache of medications in an undamaged storeroom. When Japan surrenders and the Americans arrive, the US military (portrayed as monsters and rapists in Japanese propaganda) tries to help. But the scope of the disaster is beyond anyone's means to alleviate, and only nature provides some ultimate balm. The movie tries to end on a hopeful note, showing how the surviving locals dug up one of Urakami Cathedral's Angelus bells in time for Christmas, but it's small solace.
The cast of characters is huge, and as is sometimes the case, the voice cast is only identified by name, without their roles. Here are some of the better known seiyuu:
- Itou Kentarou (Dr. Akizuki) played Doll Isamu in Super-doll Licca-chan, Tetsuo in Hikaru no Go, Akimichi in Naruto, Abarai in Bleach, Tsuchiura in Kiniro no Chord, Riki in Ai no Kusabi (2012), and Tadokoro in Yowamushi Pedal.
- Ogata Ken'ichi played the put-upon father in Maroko, Suzuki in Kigyou Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance Call, the crooked casino boss in Okane ga Nai!, the Hong Kong chef in Yuukan Club, Chichi's dad in Chiisana Koi no Monogatari, and the Narrator/Lord of Kaga in Oedo wa Nemurenai!, all Orphan releases. He also played Smee in Peter Pan no Bouken and Gran Torino in Boku no Hero Academia. However, he's best known to me as the voice of Ranma 1/2's Sataome Gemna, whose alter ego - the grumpy panda - is my avatar on most anime forums.
- Doi Mika played the title roles in Angel Cop and Explorer Woman Ray, Hayase Misa in the Macross franchise, the empress (Lafiel's grandmother) in the Crest of the Stars saga, Tabitha in the Zero no Tsukaima properties, Eclipse in Kiddy Grade, the narrator in Mushishi, and Nanase in Natsume Yuujinchou. She appeared as Hagar in Tales of the Old Testament, Yukari in Mikeneko Holmes no Yuurei Joushu, Rosa in Seikima II Humane Society, Captain Deladrier in Starship Troopers, and multiple roles in Kage, all Orphan releases.
- Yamaguchi Kappei (Hayashi, a child with a throat wound) played the lead character in the Detective Conan franchise, Ranma in the Ranma 1/2 franchise, Inuyasha in all the Inuyasha properties, Usopp in the One Piece franchise, Sakuma Ryuichi in Gravitation, Arslan in the Arslan Senki OVA series, the title role in Mouse, Ougi in Boyfriend, and Shibuya in Zetsuai 1989 and Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989, among many others. The last three are Orphan releases.
- Ishimori Takkou played Cesar in Perrine Monogatari and appeared in Akai Hayate, Mikan Enniki, and Usagi Drop.
The director, Arihara Seiji, has helmed several other anime movies set in World War II, including Hi no Ame ga Furu, Ushiro no Shoumen Daare, and Tsuru ni Notte. All of them, including Nagasaki 1945, were made by Mushi Productions, the descendant of Tezuka Osamu's original anime production company. The spare background music is by Koroku Reiijirou, who composed the scores for all the Lion Book OVAs as well as Izumo (1991), all Orphan releases.
I found a raw for the movie on the web. It interested a translator, who wishes to remain anonymous. ninjacloud timed. I edited and typeset. BeeBee and Nemesis did QC. The raw is from R-Raws and is pretty good.
Nagasaki 1945: Angelus no Kane is earnest and straightforward, but it packs an emotional wallop nonetheless. I recommend it strongly. You can get the movie from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.
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