As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the first and only atomic bombs used in warfare, the critically acclaimed “Atomic People” provides a powerful historical record, capturing the first-hand testimony of the last Japanese survivors of the blasts.
“Atomic People” premieres Monday, Aug. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app, which is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
The decision by the U.S. to drop atomic bombs on two Japanese cities — Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later — was one of the most momentous and destructive in world history.
The bomb known as “Little Boy,” which decimated Hiroshima, was 2,000 times more powerful than any bomb before, instantly killing approximately 80,000 of the city’s 350,000 residents. By the end of the year, the death toll would rise to 140,000 as initial survivors succumbed to illnesses connected to radiation exposure.
In Nagasaki, where approximately 40,000 were killed instantly, the number would rise to 74,000 by the end of the year.
Now, 80 years later, “Atomic People” presents the testimony of some of the last hibakusha — the Japanese term for survivors of the two atomic bombs — before their voices are lost forever. With an average age of 85, the hibakusha were children when the bombs were dropped. Combining their devastating personal recollections with archival footage, the film is an invaluable record of the only people left on Earth to have survived a nuclear bomb and a moving account of how their experiences shaped the rest of their lives.
Winner of the 2025 BAFTA Award for the Best Specialist Factual Programme, “Atomic People” has been praised as “incredible” (The Sun), “deeply moving” (The Guardian), “90 minutes of quiet heartbreak” (The Irish Independent), and “an excellent documentary all the more powerful for its sober understatedness” (The Times).
“Atomic People,” produced by Minnow Films, is filmed and co-directed by Benedict Sanderson, produced and co-directed by Megumi Inman. The executive producer is Morgan Matthews and Mitsu Hagiwara is the U.S. producer. The film is edited by Otto Burnham. Emma Loach is the commissioning editor for the BBC. Banijay Rights handles international distribution.