Ep 117: Influential Origins with Alan Mindel and guest Mitchie Takeuchi P1 on hmTv

In Episode 117 of Influential Origins on hmTv, host Alan Mindel welcomes filmmaker and second-generation Hiroshima survivor Mitchie Takeuchi, creator of the acclaimed documentary The Vow from Hiroshima. Mitchie shares her deeply personal family history, highlighting the profound impact of the atomic bombing on her grandfather, who led the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital, and the quiet strength of her mother who encouraged her independence and journey to America. This powerful episode explores themes of resilience, silence, historical censorship, and Mitchie's quest for freedom and identity through cross-cultural experiences. 

Transcript

Influential Origins – Episode 117 with Alan Mindel and Mitchie Takeuchi

Alan Mindel: Welcome to Influential Origins. I'm Alan Mindel, and today on hmTv, we have a tremendous guest, Mitchie Takeuchi, who has made a phenomenal documentary called The Vow from Hiroshima. Mitchie is a hibakusha, a second-generation survivor of the nuclear blast at Hiroshima. Mitchie, we're incredibly grateful to hear your story. It's a remarkable Japanese and American story, and it's our honor and privilege to have you here today.

Mitchie Takeuchi: Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity.

Alan Mindel: Mitchie, your story may seem unfamiliar to some, yet for those connected to Holocaust history, it shares significant similarities. Can you speak about your mother's influence on your life?

Mitchie Takeuchi: That’s a very good question. My mother’s influence on me is complex. We had very different personalities—I was outgoing, while she was traditional, quiet, and very beautiful. She experienced profound hardships yet rarely voiced them. Quietly, she carried sadness and frustration. Watching her, I often wondered why she wasn’t more courageous or outspoken. One reason I came to America was to pursue independence and freedom as a woman—something my mother never experienced. In a way, she supported me silently, hoping to live her unfulfilled dreams through me. My mother became my deep twin soul.

Alan Mindel: And she was instrumental in your decision to move to America in the 1970s, encouraging you despite your father’s uncertainty, correct?

Mitchie Takeuchi: Yes, exactly. She encouraged me, saying, "Go for it. Learn psychology in the United States. Become the person I couldn’t be." At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate her sacrifice.

Alan Mindel: Your grandfather also played a significant historical role as head of the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital from 1937 to 1947. Could you tell us more about his experience during the atomic bombing?

Mitchie Takeuchi: Yes, my grandfather was originally a military surgeon and professor at the Army Medical School in Tokyo. He served on the frontline in North China before moving to Hiroshima. On August 6, 1945, he was severely injured, suffering seven broken bones, rendering him immobile for weeks. Despite these injuries, he continued his work, deeply committed to helping survivors.

Alan Mindel: Your documentary, The Vow from Hiroshima, highlights not only your family's story but also another remarkable survivor, Setsuko Thurlow. Yet your family’s own experiences deeply intertwined with this historic event.

Mitchie Takeuchi: Indeed. My mother helped nurse my grandfather back to health after the bombing, though the tragedy was rarely openly discussed within our family. This silence about Hiroshima was common in many Japanese households post-war.

Alan Mindel: In your documentary, you address how information about the bombing was initially censored.

Mitchie Takeuchi: Right. Post-war censorship imposed by Allied Forces kept the Japanese public unaware of the atomic bombing's full extent until years later. Even my grandfather's detailed hospital records were initially inaccessible. I only recently discovered his significant archival materials, including his personal notebook, which was later spotlighted by Japanese national broadcaster NHK as historically crucial.

Alan Mindel: How did this legacy affect your perception of America, particularly when you moved here in 1972?

Mitchie Takeuchi: Despite the historical events, my perception of America was very positive. Post-war Japan focused heavily on rebuilding, survival, and growth. American culture represented freedom, opportunity, and abundance, all things I deeply desired. My decision to study psychology in the U.S. was inspired by American films, notably Klute, where I first saw a strong, professional female character—a psychologist—something unheard of in Japan at the time.

Alan Mindel: Mitchie, your journey from those beginnings to becoming an international figure, producing acclaimed documentaries, is extraordinary. You've captured critical historical and cultural transitions beautifully. Thank you for sharing your story today. We look forward to continuing our conversation in the next episode.

Mitchie Takeuchi: Thank you so much, Alan.