Tributes paid to Keiko

A JAPANESE-BORN Barwell woman who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb in 1945 has died of cancer, aged 80.

Keiko Minato Lane, who died on August 26, had lived in the UK for 33 years with her husband.

She was seven when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city in an attempt to end the Second World War.

Keiko’s husband, John, 84, whom she married in 1986, said: “She had moved with her family from Osaka, which was being badly bombed at the time, to her uncle’s home in Hiroshima, which was considered to be a safe city.

“She was sitting in the back garden singing to herself when there was a bright flash of green light from the explosion and she was buried under the house.

“Her mother, who was upstairs in the kitchen, managed to get out and searched and dug her out of the rubble.”

Keiko was badly injured as a result of being buried under the building and after she was rescued, her mother carried her six miles to get medical attention.

John said: “On the way she saw many people injured and dying, including children. She said it was absolutely horrific and it obviously had a lasting impression on her.

“She said dead bodies were being stacked up against the walls at the treatment centre, until eventually soldiers came along and began to burn the bodies.”

Until her mid-20s, Keiko spent a long time in hospital being treated for radiation poisoning and other issues caused by the atomic bomb.

She met John while he was in Kyoto on business and, soon after, moved with him to the UK.

He said: “We got chatting. I liked her and she liked me and she got on with and looked after my son Jonathon, who was 10 at the time.

“I am of course really proud of her. I am proud of the fact that she tried to live a normal life after her experiences.

“We got on well and she looked after me and despite everything she went through she never lost her sense of humour.

“Sometimes I was worried she would relapse and struggle with what she dealt with, but they are made of strong stuff these Japanese women.”

Keiko’s funeral will be at St Mary’s Church, Barwell, at 10am on Friday September 28. Flowers should be sent to AJ Murray Funeral Directors, 48 Bond Street, Hinckley.