The Irradiating of the Daigo Fukuryū Maru (Lucky Dragon #5)

On the 1st of March 1954, the United States of America would detonate their largest bomb in history, the Castle Bravo Hydrogen Bomb. Not far away, the F/V Daigo Fukuryū Maru or Lucky Dragon #5 was fishing for Tuna, completely unaware that they would be the very first victims of the Hydrogen bomb. The event, would inspire the Godzilla movies, which often carried an anti-nuclear weapon message. It sparked a debate about the usage of Nuclear Weapons that lasts to this day.
#History #Disaster

Works Cited:
The Day the Sun rose in the West: Bikini, The Lucky Dragon, and I by Ōishi Matashichi 大石又七

Channel Merch:

Dragon Rise Studio (Channel Artist):

Check out my other social media:

[MaritimeHorrors]

Attention all hands!
I now have merch! My channel artist has made up some merch on her teepublic. All funds go to paying her for the wonderful work she does. So if you want to show your support for the channel and the great art she does, pick something up!

[TiernanWilkinson]

What happened to the ship:

- captain in hospital last minute
- replacement crew
- forgot a part for the engine
- ran aground
- 2 storms
- more engine trouble
- fishing was terrible
- lost half their lines
*- rained on with nuclear fallout*

[sorrenblitz]

This event, not to mention the 2 nuclear attacks on actual cities, was a major inspiration behind the creation of Godzilla. The original film from 1954 was never a silly monster movie and was written as an allegory for the horrors or nuclear weapons. In fact Raymond Burr, who portrays "Reporter Steve Martin" in the original American cut of Gojira refused to be part of the American version of Godzilla 1984 unless the studio actually took it seriously because the American studio wanted to make it a silly monster movie like the ones from the 60's and 70's

[Ben_not_]

I remember watching an interview with one of the US Navy personnel who was on board one of the ships that was there to witness the test. Three things stuck out to me.
1. When bravo went off, he was wearing thick welders googles and had been facing the opposite direction as instructed by his CO. He could see the bones in his hand when the bomb went off.
2. When he turned around to look at the mushroom cloud he remembered thinking that the cloud was a lot bigger than he had expected and remarked that even some of the scientists who had been on deck seemed uneasy.
3. Was the ship ended up covered in radioactive fallout as well and the ship closed up all port holes and ventilation shafts to reduce exposure to radiation. He was handed a 1911 and told if anyone tried to open the port hole, he was to shoot them……………

Whether it was the Japanese fishermen, the American sailors, or the poor bastards at the other end of bikini atol who were in a concrete bunker studying the blast from what they thought was a safe distance……. No one who was present remembers castle bravo fondly.

[Straswa]

Those poor fishermen, absolutely awful. RIP and condolences to their loved ones. Nice coverage MH.

[MasterClassComments]

So let me get this straight.. They had to divert to get a part... Ran around ona sandbar.. ran into a low.. engine broke down... Fishing was shit... Lost half her fishing lines... THEN HAD A NUCLEAR BOMB DROPPED ON THEIR HEAD?? That nonetheless was double as big as it was supposed to be.. WHAT A TRIP

[joerogers]

This incident was one of the inspirations for the original Godzilla movie.

[MidnightDarkness]

The diagram at 4:58 is utterly terrifying. Like, I knew the Tsar Bomb was big, but not THAT big! I mean, it utterly dwarves Everest and makes Olympus Mons, the largest mountain in the solar system, look like a pancake.

[BritanniaPacific]

In gojira, dr yumani said that traces of strontium 90 was found in Godzilla’s footprints, a product of the h bomb. When I had an astronomy class in college, we were doing a lab activity involving learning about radioactivity. The assignment involved working with strontium 90. I immediately thought of that quote from the movie. Long story short, I never wanted to do anything like that again. Thankfully, we didn’t.

[andrewrife]

Anyone who says "a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work" needs to be made aware of this

[kendo_otter]

What a haunting, but important, piece of history! Great vid!

[markvines]

I was completely unaware of this story. Thanks for all your effort in bringing it to us.

[antongrahn]

When you think your first journey as captain cant possibly go any worse...

[portoesdeprata]

Man, I was about to suggest this topic, I'm so glad you covered this!

[bobberttv]

I remember reading about this in Gojiras Lil collectors pamphlet. This whole vessels situation was just insane.

[twogranolabarsandabeer]

I discovered you and Kyle Hill separately, but you both captivate my attention, thanks so much

[clayz]

Great stories, and the narration is top notch. Good use of background sound/music.

[brt-jnkg]

What they thought was inert in the kicker that made up the secondary of the bomb was lithium deuteride. They thought this was in no way propagate when the weapon went off and instead of being inert it acted to almost triple the power of the bomb. It almost killed some scientists in a bunker several miles away. It blew a 200 deep foot hole in the surrounding coral and part of the island. The men that were there on the ships 50 mi away said they can see their bones through their hands from the x-rays release. It was not unusual to see men fall to their knees on the back of the Navy ships and cry out to God for salvation. These would have been second World war veterans men who knew combat and Hell!

[afrozen-]

For more info, Kyle Hill has a fantastic video on the Castle Bravo device and Johnny Harris has a video on the cultural effects of the atomic bomb tests on the bikini atoll. Godzilla is a prime example.

[GFK]

Another good source is a book titled "Burning the Sky", a good telling of the history of atmospheric atomic weapons testing.