Nekohachi Edoya

Nekohachi Edoya, affectionately referred to as "Edo Neko," was a distinguished impressionist and actor associated with the Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai (Rakugo Art Association). Born Roku-ro Okada on October 1, 1921, he was the sixth son in his family and became a prominent figure in Japanese entertainment.

At the age of 23, during the horrific Hiroshima atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, Nekohachi was serving as Corporal Rokuro Okada in the Japanese Army's Naval Artillery Regiment No. 1, stationed in Ujina, now part of Minami Ward in Hiroshima. He had planned to meet actress Keiko Sonoi, a friend from the traveling theater group "Sakura-tai," but a hangover from celebrating a recent vocal mimicry competition led him to oversleep. Awakening to the chaos of the bombing, he found himself in the midst of the disaster, while Sonoi, who was near the hypocenter, tragically succumbed to radiation illness shortly after.

Nekohachi's regiment was located over 3 kilometers from the hypocenter, which shielded him from the immediate devastation. Assigned to assess damage near the Okihashi Bridge and coordinate with the Fukiyama Naval Artillery Battalion, he witnessed the catastrophic aftermath firsthand. His subsequent involvement in relief and medical efforts exposed him to lingering radiation, resulting in health complications that affected him throughout his life.

For many years, he refrained from discussing his harrowing experiences. Eventually, he bravely chronicled them in works such as "Soldier's Life and Pikadon" and "The Cat that Crawled out of the Mushroom Cloud." Renowned for his exceptional vocal mimicry and acting, the legacy of 3rd Generation Edoya Nekohachi lives on, inspiring future generations in the world of entertainment.