Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

At 8.15 a.m. on the 6th of August, 1945, an atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima. It was an event that changed the course of

history, but it was also one driven by individuals. Here in conversation with Spencer Mizzin,

the author Ian McGregor tells this story through the eyes of people whose lives were forever

changed by the quest to build

the bomb, from the general charged with leading the Manhattan Project to the journalist who

exposed its devastating consequences. So, Ian, your new book charts a decade-long journey towards

the world's first atomic attack, introducing us to some of those

people who played critical roles in the development of the bomb, and also those most affected

by its detonation.

I guess one of the most powerful sections in the book is one involving Hiroshima survivor

Machiko Kadama, because you actually met her in

person, didn't you? So I wonder if you could start by explaining what it was like to meet her

and how meeting her changed your perception of what happened 80 years ago. So Machiko's a very

prestigious person in Japan in terms of very high profile. She is the

Assistant Secretary General of the Atomic Survivors Group and obviously their numbers are dwindling,

but they have a big presence in the Japanese media and internationally. Last November, that group won the Nobel

Peace Prize. So they're very significant. So her time is limited. And she was 88 when I interviewed

her. So yeah, I mean, it was just very, very emotional because I can read all the books I want

and watch all the films and documentaries I want. but when you're set opposite someone who's survived and been an eyewitness to the

destruction of the world's first atomic bomb it's it's incredible on so many different levels

very emotional because she lost you know she lost a great deal. She was 10 years old.

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