Stream now with KPBS+ / Watch Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 at 10:30 p.m. on KPBS TV
Two friends, connected by family histories on opposite sides of World War II, set out to explore the lasting trauma of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. While Japanese hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) endure lifelong health complications and psychological scars, American atomic veterans who witnessed the bombings' aftermath also struggle with radiation-related illnesses and PTSD.
For decades, these stories have been buried in silence and shame. Through deeply personal encounters with the last remaining American atomic veterans, Japanese survivors, and experts, "Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories From WWII" unearths the human impact of nuclear warfare, one that extends across generations and national borders.
As the last witnesses near the end of their lives, their voices urge us to confront the true cost of nuclear war to avoid history repeating
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Credits: KCTS/Cascade Public Media / APT
