Today, Stanford University students spent their afternoon at the Yu Ai Kai Senior Center in Japantown, San Jose, sitting with seniors to “talk story.” Over cream pan and an-pan pastries, stories were shared—some difficult, some joyful, all meaningful.
One senior shared her experience surviving the Hiroshima atomic bombing. On August 6, 1945, she was just 16 years old and already working as a nurse. She remembers being told to take cover in the nearest ditch as the shockwave of heat from the blast traveled across the ground—ditches offered the best chance of survival, while going into the ocean would not protect against the heat radiation. After the war, she recalled days with no food, sometimes surviving by eating glue.
Alongside these moments of hardship were many happy memories as well—stories of vacation cruises, trips to Italy, fly-fishing adventures, and treasured holiday traditions.
Thank you to Yu Ai Kai for all that you do to fulfill your mission: to promote healthy aging, support independent living, and advocate for seniors while honoring Japanese American traditions.
We’re looking forward to documenting more seniors’ life stories at the next Memory Collection Workshop!
