Here is a higher quality version of this image. Credit to the photographer, Joseph Roger O'Donnell, who took this between September 1945 and April 1946. The provided the following context:
“I saw a boy about ten years old walking by. He was carrying a baby on his back. In those days in Japan, we often saw children playing with their little brothers or sisters on their backs, but this boy was clearly different. I could see that he had come to this place for a serious reason. He was wearing no shoes. His face was hard. The little head was tipped back as if the baby were fast asleep. The boy stood there for five or ten minutes”.
“The men in white masks walked over to him and quietly began to take off the rope that was holding the baby. That is when I saw that the baby was already dead. The men held the body by the hands and feet and placed it on the fire. The boy stood there straight without moving, watching the flames. He was biting his lower lip so hard that it shone with blood. The flame burned low like the sun going down. The boy turned around and walked silently away”.
Spartan2470 on May 15th, 2024 at 13:22 UTC »
Here is a higher quality version of this image. Credit to the photographer, Joseph Roger O'Donnell, who took this between September 1945 and April 1946. The provided the following context:
r3d3vil73 on May 15th, 2024 at 13:36 UTC »
That is heart breaking, I think my soul just shattered. Would never wish this on anyone
crypticmint on May 15th, 2024 at 14:33 UTC »
he looks so stoic. what a brave little boy