A country boy from Indonesia went to study in Japan. A dreadful fate brought him to witness the horror of the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima. He subsequently became one of the leading figures behind the close relationship between Indonesia and Japan.
HIROSHIMA, 6 August 1945. That early morning, Hasan Rahaya with his three other colleagues were sitting in a lecture room. They could hear the siren signaling all clear, a sign that the U.S. aircraft had crossed the sky. The students were ready for their Physics class. The lecturer, an elderly man with a bald head, had just scribbled a few letters on the board when a blinding flash blasted the window. Hasan turned his head to the sudden intrusion. Without warning, his body darted off, smashed into the ceiling, and fell to the ground. The ceiling above him was the next to crumble, dropping a piano from the upper floor that hit Hasan’s head. Blood instantly gushed, and the shock knocked him unconscious. Fortunately, it was that same piano that shielded his life from the deadly wreckage.
A few minutes later, Hasan woke up with excruciating pain weighing his head down. His skin was completely covered in ashes. He attempted to stand, clearing the debris around the piano and his body. It appeared that the surrounding buildings of Hiroshima University, his campus, had all shattered, leaving behind a mere part of the main building.
Closeby, he saw someone coming out from the rubble with an injured head. It was Arifin Bey, an Indonesian student and a friend of Hasan. They walked towards each other with disoriented looks on their faces, examining the unforeseen chaos around them. Their classmates and lecturer lay motionless, trapped under the rubble.
They escaped the building through a hole on the ruptured glass. The sky outside was murky with black smoke hindering their sights. They could feel the scorching hot air seeping into their skin.
HIROSHIMA, 6 August 1945. That early morning, Hasan Rahaya with his three other colleagues were sitting in a lecture room. They could hear the siren signaling all clear, a sign that the U.S. aircraft had crossed the sky. The students were ready for their Physics class. The lecturer, an elderly man with a bald head, had just scribbled a few letters on the board when a blinding flash blasted the window. Hasan turned his head to the sudden intrusion. Without warning, his body darted off, smashed into the ceiling, and fell to the ground. The ceiling above him was the next to crumble, dropping a piano from the upper floor that hit Hasan’s head. Blood instantly gushed, and the shock knocked him unconscious. Fortunately, it was that same piano that shielded his life from the deadly wreckage.
A few minutes later, Hasan woke up with excruciating pain weighing his head down. His skin was completely covered in ashes. He attempted to stand, clearing the debris around the piano and his body. It appeared that the surrounding buildings of Hiroshima University, his campus, had all shattered, leaving behind a mere part of the main building.
Closeby, he saw someone coming out from the rubble with an injured head. It was Arifin Bey, an Indonesian student and a friend of Hasan. They walked towards each other with disoriented looks on their faces, examining the unforeseen chaos around them. Their classmates and lecturer lay motionless, trapped under the rubble.
They escaped the building through a hole on the ruptured glass. The sky outside was murky with black smoke hindering their sights. They could feel the scorching hot air seeping into their skin.
The other two students, Pengiran Yusof (Brunei) and Abdul Razak (Malaysia), thankfully alive, came up to them hurriedly. The group then swiftly moved to their dormitory situated around 600 meters from the campus.
On their way, Hasan and his friends saw countless civilians limping with their skin charred. The trees burnt. Cattle perished. Buildings flattened to the ground.
They were puzzled by the unimaginable horror before them. Later, they found out that earlier at 08.15 Japan time, an atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima.
Nearly three thousand miles from Japan, the news of Hiroshima's atomic bombing broke to Hasan's family in Indonesia. They were left bewildered. They had no one to ask about Hasan's condition.
"The news spread in Jasinga (West Java) that he was gone. With such a catastrophic incident, it is impossible for anyone to survive," said Deden Rochmawati, Hasan Rahaya's first child, to Historia.id.
<div class="flex-content-podcast"><figure class="img-left"><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61af270884f7a0580d35618e/61f7ae51cb2bdde7d5e8d78e_Intersection%2029.jpg" alt="img"></div><figcaption>Hiroshima, Japan after the dropping of the atomic bomb by the U.S. bomber “Enola Gay”, 1945. (shutterstock)</figcaption></figure><div class="img-right"><div class="podcast-container"><img alt="muhammad-ali" class="entered loaded" data-ll-status="loaded" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61af270884f7a0580d35618e/61f7ae56ef5754033f8db313_Intersection%2030.jpg"><div class="audio-podcast"><audio controls controlsList="nodownload"><source src="https://d220hvstrn183r.cloudfront.net/premium/hasan-rahaya-tertinggal-di-hiroshima/ferdi-hasan-podcast.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">Your browser does not support the audio element.</audio></div></div><div class="caption"><span><b>Ferdi Hasan,</b><br>Hasan Rahaya’s second child.</span></div></div></div>
A Language Enthusiast
Jasinga is situated 50 kilometers away from the west of Bogor, West Java. Hasan Rahaya was born there on 22 December 1922, from a father named Raden Rahaya and a mother named Siti Hajah Junaini. The couple had nine children, with Hasan Rahaya being the youngest.
His father was a demang, while his mother was a homemaker. Hasan had his primary education in the Folk School of Jasinga. At school, he was particularly interested in language, which was proven by his constant achievement of good grades. Although he was a native Sundanese and used the language to communicate with his family, Malay and Dutch were the two languages that allowed him to connect with people outside Jasinga. He also learned Arabic in a different school, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (Islamic elementary school) Muhammadiyah.
"Classes at MI Muhammadiyah start at 13.00 to 15.00," Hasan recounted in his memoir Garuda Matahari. That only means he was straight to the next school of the day after concluding his classes at the Folk School. In the afternoon, he went home and helped his mother at her kiosk.
Hasan graduated from both schools with satisfying grades. He continued to Schakel School, a transition school from the Folk School to MULO (similar to junior high school). Hasan completed his education as a top student. His Dutch progressed tremendously, motivating him to pursue even higher level school.
Hasan eventually left for Batavia to study at a teacher school Muhammadiyah, where he studied English, something new yet exciting for him. Once again, he graduated with flying colors.
After graduating, he started teaching at Ijtima'iyah school in Tanah Abang. During classes, the teachers there often brought up the topic regarding Japanese people. At that time, anything related to Japan was a typical subject of discussion as more and more Japanese products started to flood in many cities of Dutch East Indies since the 1930s.
The significant influence escalated when the Japanese army invaded the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch army, overpowered, finally surrendered on 8 March 1942.
Hasan ultimately decided to go back home.
Japanese soldiers arrived in Java. (Troppenmuseum)
A Translator in a Japanese Office
When Hasan arrived, his village was nothing like before. His father was no longer a demang. The Dutch-owned rubber factories had been taken over by the Japanese. Their soldiers were all scattered around the village.
At first, the presence of the Japanese made the villagers uneasy. Their nervousness sparked by the rumors spread by the Dutch that the Japanese were wicked, ruthless people, and would eventually execute them all. Frightened by the rumors, Hasan's family fled Jasinga.
However, Hasan persisted and stayed in Jasinga to meet the Japanese himself, using his English skill to communicate. The Japanese assured him, "No need to be afraid. Indonesians don't have to be afraid. Indonesia is our brother. I'm just looking for the white people."
Hasan contacted his family and persuaded them and the other villagers to return to Jasinga, convincing them that the Japanese were far from dangerous. His family trusted his words. They went back home, opened their kiosk, and ran a tofu factory.
The Japanese frequently visited Hasan's mother's kiosk for breakfast. According to them, his mother's dish was delectable. These daily visits started to establish a close friendship between Hasan and the Japanese, in which there was an exchange of language. Hasan taught them Malay, while they introduced him to Japanese.
Sam Suhaedi, one of Hasan's colleagues in Japan, confirmed the friendly exchange. In Suka Duka Pelajar Indonesia di Jepang Sekitar Perang Pasifik 1942-1945, Sam clarifies that the close relationship with Japan was not only exclusive to Hasan, but also to the other youths. The closeness was commonly flourished between a commissioned officer and an Indonesian youth.
Unable to locate the Dutch, the duties of the Japanese in Jasinga concluded and they moved to Bogor. Their departure left a profound impression on Hasan.
"During interviews with Mr. Hasan, and when looking at his diaries, I realized he never talks bad about the Japanese. There are only nice things," said Yan Zavind Aundjan, author of Hasan Rahaya's memoir.
After the Japanese left Jasinga, Hasan returned to Jakarta to teach in a Muhammadiyah school. He also took a Japanese course there.
Having successfully completed the course in 1943, Hasan worked as a Japanese and sports teacher at his alma mater. Shortly after, he accepted a job offer as a translator in Gunseikanbu (Japanese military government office). He enjoyed a lavish life and excellent facilities: bike, residence, clothes, and food.
Hasan's boss there was Kataoka Seiichi. They spent plenty of time together during business trips out of town. One day, they traveled to East Java and encountered a female farmer. Kataoka was eager to know about the agricultural products there, but the farmer only spoke Javanese, a language Hasan knew very little of.
Kataoka was baffled by the inability of the farmer in speaking Indonesian, thus questioning Hasan, who replied, “Indonesian language is only known as a unifying language among the youth, and a certain few other people."
Kataoka was determined to extend this problem to his boss. It was not long until Japan announced Indonesian language as a compulsory subject at schools.
"All because of Mr. Hasan," praised Yan.
Yan added that Hasan also proposed and replaced the administrative correspondence of the Japanese military government to be bilingual in Japanese and Malay.
During his time at Gunseikanbu, Hasan often saw the Indonesian government officials being gathered. They were lectured by the Japanese instructors regarding their intention in coming to Indonesia. They also received training. Hasan was responsible for two programs, substituting a Japanese instructor.
Hasan's task was similar to the national independence movement leaders who cooperated with the Japanese military government. The Japanese used that valuable cooperation to cultivate nationalism among the Indonesian people. On the other hand, it also helped Japan to crack into the country and control both its human and natural resources.
Hasan Rahaya when he was a student in Japan. (Family’s collection)
Studying in Japan
Having national movement leaders under their wing, the Japanese also seek to gain support from the youths. One of their strategies was to provide scholarships, through which the Japanese government guaranteed to cover the student's entire living expenses while in Japan. That scholarship called Nanpo Tokubetsu Ryugakusei (Nantoku) excited many young Indonesians.
Aiko Kurasawa in Sisi Gelap Perang Asia mentioned that those who chose to study in Japan were inclined into anti-Dutch and anti-colonialism, and were looking for encouragement, support, and guidance from the ultra-nationalist Japanese politicians who were anti-Western themselves. Those student candidates were coming from families with high social status, commonly of aristocrats and having completed their study in the Netherlands.
The Japanese government sent these selected students in 1943. There were 52 students in total in this batch: 24 from Java, 7 from Sumatra, and 21 from Eastern Indonesia.
The following year, the government sent the next batch of Indonesian students to Japan. The golden opportunity finally came to Hasan.
"My late father was in the second batch that received the scholarship to study in a university in Japan in 1944," said Ferdy Hasan, the second child of Hasan Rahaya.
Night before departing, Hasan and the group sat with Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta in Cikini, Jakarta.
"We were given advice and encouragement to study many knowledge areas in Japan, particularly technology and arts, and to contribute to the country in the future," said Hasan.
Leaving for Japan was one of the most critical decisions in Hasan's life. When his family and relatives took the path of business, he chose to venture into the education field. He was especially confident with his Japanese skills.
Upon his arrival in 1944, Hasan occupied a room in the Southeast Asian student dormitory in Tokyo. To his surprise, Hasan discovered that his Japanese skills still fell short compared to university level. He and his friends had to take another Japanese course for a year. However, he was overjoyed, having the chance to study Japanese from an amiable native, accompanied by the exquisite scenery of the Land of the Rising Sun.
But the delight soon turned into gloom nearing the end of 1944. His course became more difficult than ever, as there were growing concerns everywhere about the Allied force aircraft that had invaded Tokyo.
"We saw the dropping of thousands of bombs that destroyed half of Tokyo and nearby. We witnessed these views almost every day and every night," claimed Hasan.
The basic needs supply was also disrupted because of the incessant attacks. Food was scarce, the electricity was unstable, and even clothes were rationed. Amid the turmoil, Hasan was appointed as the secretary of the student association Nantoku, with a role to coordinate the meetings and discussions held for the members.
Meanwhile, the situation in Tokyo worsened. Anticipating any adversity that might happen to the Southeast Asian students in Tokyo, the Japanese government relocated them to several cities that were deemed safer.
Arifin Bey, Hasan's friend, in "Bom Atom di Atas Hiroshima" in Berkala Ilmu Kedokteran, September 1989, cited that the students were scattered across cities such as Kyoto, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, and Yamaguchi in the western of Japan, and to Akita, Chiba, Hakodate, and the other cities in the northern Japan.
Hasan and three other friends of his, including Bey, were moved into Hiroshima. "Hiroshima was rarely touched by the American bombers," explained Arifin Bey.
In fact, Hiroshima was far calmer and quieter than Tokyo. Hasan and his compatriots stayed in a dormitory located around 600 meters from their campus. They noticed that the city had gradually grown dead as the Japanese men had gone to fight in the other cities. The vacant city made everyone sure that it by no means would not be attacked.
The assumption, however, was proved wrong on 6 August 1945. Hiroshima was destroyed by the United States atomic bomb dropped from the B-29 aircraft. It was 20,000 times more powerful than an ordinary bomb, but the fate determined otherwise: Hasan survived.
With his friends in Japan. (Family’s collection)
Uncertain Future
Trapped under the wreckage of Hiroshima University, Hasan Rahaya and his three friends escaped through the window and decided to go back to their destroyed dormitory.
Someone from the remains begged for help. The voice turned out to be of Syarif Adil Sagala, Hasan's Indonesian friend who was also a student. Hasan picked up the debris and pulled Sagala out.
In no time, bursts of fires spread into the whole city and burned the dormitory. A Malaysian student, Nick Yusof, screamed for his life. The frenzy drove him into the fire and swallowed him alive.
Hasan, hand-in-hand with his friends, rescued many people from the wreckage and evacuated them to a safer area by the river not far from the dormitory. Their bravery was ingrained in the minds of people that were lent a hand that day.
"They comforted us even though they themselves needed consolation. They sang their traditional songs to us. Bengawan Solo and Terang Boelan. We took our violin and sang Japanese songs to them. We consoled each other," depicted Meiko Kurihara, an atomic bomb survivor and the neighbor of the students, to interview.tsuguten.com.
The wind suddenly blew strong, kindling the fire onto them. Hasan promptly instructed the others to jump into Motoyasu River in front of the dormitory. They endured the water for hours before moving into a bridge to escape the fire.
After the fire finally subsided, Hasan and his companions reached the land. Their clothes soaked wet and their bodies shivered. They went around looking for a shelter before finally deciding to rest and stay the night on the campus grounds of Hiroshima University.
Hasan and his friends’ fate were completely up in the air. One day, a Japanese named Mr. Miwa offered him to live at his house, which only suffered a small crack from the bombing.
While the wound was still fresh, the second atomic bomb hit Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. Japan was devastated. The downfall of both cities forced Japan to surrender unconditionally to the Allies.
This decision put the Southeast Asian students in a limbo. The Japanese government announced the halt of their scholarship. They were given only two choices: to stay in Japan at their own expense or to return to their home country.
Hasan was determined to stay.
<div class="strect-width-img"><figure><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61af270884f7a0580d35618e/61fa24d17ae67c46d38136c6_Foto-5.jpg" alt="img"></div><figcaption>The wrecked buildings in Hiroshima after the dropping of the atomic bomb. (wikimediacommons)</figcaption></figure></div>
Surviving in Japan
The horrific encounter with the atomic bomb was cemented in Hasan's mind. Still, he was delighted to hear the news of Indonesia's long-awaited independence. On the other hand, the Dutch army made it difficult for the Indonesian students to return home. Every communication line was made not possible—he would only be able to send a letter to his family after three months. Suffering from the uncertainty, Hasan applied for a job in the U.S. Army Headquarters in Yokohama.
Lucky as ever, he got the news that he had successfully landed the job as a translator. Hasan worked there for several months and earned enough money. The job also allowed him to be acquainted with numerous Japanese and the Allied high-ranking officers, establishing perfect amity with them.
Hasan often received alcoholic drinks and cigarettes from his chiefs. Neither a smoker nor a drinker, Hasan sold them to the Japanese and the U.S. soldiers. He used the money to continue studying Political Science in Keio University, Tokyo, in 1948, and later graduated with praise in 1951. From there, he worked in Sun Show Trading, a Japanese company in Osaka until late 1951.
Seven years residing in Japan, Hasan earned a myriad of things: a bachelor’s degree, a lover, international friends, academic community, Indonesian community in Japan, and business know-how.
"He was familiar with many Japanese higher-ups, and the U.S. military higher-ups in Japan at that time," remarked Yan.
Hasan eventually felt that his time in Japan had come to an end. It was time to return to Indonesia. After gaining the recognition of sovereignty from the Dutch in 1949, the administration process to return to Indonesia became smooth for the Nantokus.
Young Hasan Rahaya’s portrait after returning to Indonesia around 1950s. His family was in shock seeing him in a perfect health. (Photo/ Family’s collection)
Hasan was warmly welcomed by his family in Jasinga in 1951. It amazed them that Hasan was in perfect health with no single trace of radiation. The family was previously distressed after reading an article claiming that the victims of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima did not live longer because of the radiation.
His neighbors in the village were no less proud of Hasan, having a scholar from Japan among them. Akin to the other ex-Indonesian students in Japan who went home, Hasan was well received by the community.
Hasan took a decent time with his family at home before embarking to Kalimantan for a six-month training. “I learned a lot about business and trading from the training," said Hasan.
He applied his skills from the training by starting a business in the film industry, opening several cinemas under the Gamelan Corporation in a few villages. The films were imported from Japan, India, the United States, and Egypt. He deliberately included Japanese movies to introduce the Japanese customs during the time of peace. “It is different from the Japanese's lives at war," said Hasan.
Obtaining those films was not an arduous task for Hasan, counting on the fact that his network in Japan was of help. But the Japanese films apparently lacked interest in Indonesia. The audience were more entertained with Indian dance films and American cowboys. Despite that, Hasan claimed that his cinema business was a decent success.
"My business in the film industry ran quite well. Though at that time the film industry was not as advanced and modern, I fairly enjoyed the business," said Hasan.
Jumping from the film business, Hasan started his venture in the Quran publishing. Hasan owed his business coming into life mostly to his relations in Japan. Omar Barack, an ex-Indonesian student in Japan, introduced him to K.H. Idham Chalid, a figure in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). From that, he also got to know the other NU figures.
Hasan's religious organization background was actually Muhammadiyah. He was friends with many influential acquaintances in this organization, such as K.H. Bagoes Hadikoesoemo. But instead, Hasan became a structural part of the NU. His friendships with Islamic personalities brought him a good deal in order to print the Quran.
Hasan then forwarded the printing order to Japan, which boasted better quality with cheaper price. Aside from printing, he also became a Quran corrector along with K.H. Abubakar Atjeh.
"In the past when Muslim people recite the Quran, they will find behind the Quran mushaf a writing: Abubakar Atjeh and Raden Hasan Rahaya," said Yan.
(Left) Hasan Rahaya posed in his office around 1960s. At that time Hasan had started his business in film and scrap metal export (Right) Hasan Rahaya and his wife attending a social event in Jakarta. (Photo/ Family’s collection)
Free from the Allies occupation in 1952, Japan hastened the rebuilding of cities destroyed by the war. The country was in need of construction materials such as iron and steel. Hasan seized this opportunity. He started exporting scrap metal to Japan with Ali Said, the future Attorney General of Indonesia in 1973-1981.
"I gathered traders from Madura who vended throughout Ancol and Priok, Jakarta," disclosed Hasan. The irons were melted in Japan and used as material for buildings. Imagine, the new buildings in Japan were constructed with the scrap metal from the Madurese!
But Hasan’s scrap metal deal was quite short-lived because he had some troubles in keeping the supply. Before his business fell apart, Hasan quickly prepared another export business to Japan. He was keeping up with the momentum as he also imported textile from the country.
Hasan's business was backed by the ex-student network Nantoku. The students there also partook in the business deal with Japan, having their businesses centered in Osaka. To report the business climate in Japan, they published a media called Pewarta Dagang in Osaka.
The media, as recounted by Aiko Kurasawa, contributed greatly to transitioning the trading industry with Japan that was once dominated by the Dutch into Indonesians. It was all while Indonesia and Japan's diplomatic relationship was not yet established. Ex-students of Nantoku had initiated the relation between Indonesia and Japan through their business joints.
Hasan had an exceptional take to strengthen the Indonesia-Japan alliance: he managed to integrate the culture with the economy. He co-founded the Association for Promoting Friendly Relations between Indonesia and Japan (Nichi-I Shinzen) in 1956. He was also selected as the director of Perguruan Bahasa Jepang (Nippon Bunka Gakuin) in 1958.
At the end of the 1950s, Japan saw an increase in its exports and Indonesia became the market target of their products. This fact explained their willingness to pay the war reparations, an indemnity for their occupancy of Indonesia in 1942-1945.
Japan was greatly supported by the ex-student network Nantoku. Sadly, this match made in heaven between Indonesia and Japan ended in the 1960s when Indonesia changed its political direction to left-wing countries, straining the two countries' relationship.
The collaboration negotiation of the bauxite and tin mine industry between Indonesia and Japan also suffered. Amid this process, Hasan did his part as a translator.
After the relationship turned sour, Hasan and the ex-students of Nantoku changed their focus to the culture path, hoping to maintain their connection with Japan. This led to the founding of The Association of Alumni from Japan (Persada) on 5 July 1963, an organization chaired by Umarjadi Njotowijono while Hasan sat as the vice chair.
Hasan Rahaya and his wife Susi Susati on Bhineka 1 ship around 1980s. (Photo/ Family’s collection)
"Persada was established as a platform to cultivate the unity of the alumni from Japan and to aid the government in succeeding their programs, in line with the disciplines of each member," said Hasan.
The political shift after 1965 forged the relationship between Indonesia and Japan back into harmony. Sukarno was drowned with his independent economy notion, while Suharto emerged along with his openness to the foreign capital. Japan was quick on the trigger by bringing back the ex-student organization Nantoku.
Unstoppable, Hasan established a cargo shipping company Bhinneka Lines in 1965 to support the export-import activity between Indonesia and Japan. "He was the first one to run a cargo shipping business in Indonesia, fostering the shipping business between Indonesia and Japan," recalled Yan.
Through his cargo business, Hasan became a household name. He was frequently invited to Japan for business matters. In his recurrent meetings with various people, he often recounted his story as a survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
In 2005, Hasan received an Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon medal, the third out of seven highest awards granted by the Japanese government. He was deemed as a prominent figure behind the strong relation between Indonesia and Japan.
Remembering Hiroshima
The proximity of business relationship between Indonesia and Japan was in par with the contribution of the ex-students of Nantoku in developing the organizations of Indonesia-Japan-Southeast Asia. Hasan, for instance, administered Industrial Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia-Japan; Asean Council of Japan Alumni (Ascoja), a platform for all Japan alumni in Southeast Asia; and Asian Japan Alumni (Asja), a platform for all Japan alumni in Asia.
He was also active in the International Students Institute and Komaba International Students, both headquartered in Tokyo. He was getting busier despite his aging physique. He traveled to the United States to expand his cargo business in the 1980s. Later, he returned to Indonesia and founded Darma Persada University (Unsada) in Jakarta together with his friends in the ex-student network Nantoku.
The solid relations between Hasan and his friends with the Japanese government was proven strong when he managed to invite Emperor Akihito and the Empress to visit Unsada on 3 October 1991.
<div class="flex-content-podcast"><figure class="img-left"><div><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61af270884f7a0580d35618e/61fa2b4a519af257a4f60bbb_Intersection%2032.jpg" alt="img"></div><figcaption>Visiting Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan in 1995. (Family’s collection).</figcaption></figure><div class="img-right"><div class="podcast-container"><img alt="muhammad-ali" class="entered loaded" data-ll-status="loaded" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61af270884f7a0580d35618e/61fa2b46a5efac01662badd6_Intersection%2031.jpg"><div class="audio-podcast"><audio controls controlsList="nodownload"><source src="https://d220hvstrn183r.cloudfront.net/premium/hasan-rahaya-tertinggal-di-hiroshima/yan-podcast.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">Your browser does not support the audio element.</audio></div></div><div class="caption"><span><b>Yan Zavin. </b><br>Author of Hasan Rahaya’s biography.</span></div></div></div>
Four years following the event, the favor was returned when Hasan and the ex-students of Nantoku, as the survivors of Hiroshima bombings, fulfilled the emperor’s invitation to attend the 50th year of Hiroshima bombing commemoration held in the Peace Memorial Park, the epicentrum of the atomic bombing.
In the Peace Memorial Park, museums and monuments were built to remember the victims and survivors of the grievous decimation. One of the monuments was dedicated to the survivors from Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
Hasan admitted that the incident constantly reminded him of Hiroshima and that the city was always in his mind wherever he went.
"Do you know the song "I left my heart in San Francisco' sung by Frank Sinatra? I also feel the same, 'I left my heart in Hiroshima'," said Hasan to Katrin Figge, a German-Indonesian writer, in katrinfigge.com.
Hasan Rahaya passed away in Jakarta on 30 November 2014. His heart remained in Hiroshima, but his story lives for every other human. *
A memorial for Hasan Rahaya. (Family’s collection).
Translation by:
Prihandini Anisa
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