Sankichi Tōge

, born Mitsuyoshi Tōge, was a Japanese poet, activist, and survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He is best known for his collection of poems Genbaku Shishu ("Poems of the Atomic Bomb"), published in 1951.

Early life and education Mitsuyoshi Tōge, later known as Sankichi Tōge, was born on 19 February 1917 in Osaka, the youngest son of Ki'ichi Tōge, a successful manufacturer of bricks. From the start Tōge was a sickly child, suffering from asthma and periodic vomiting.

His family was politically radical, with two siblings official members of the Communist Party and all of the children having been arrested at least once; however, Tōge did not become involved in politics at this time. In 1949 he joined the Japanese Communist Party. at the National Hiroshima Sanatorium.

Legacy Tōge's poetry, especially that containing the vivid imagery describing the pain caused by the bomb, has been translated into many languages, and he is regarded as "the leading poet of atomic bomb".

A monument to Tōge was erected at on 6 August 1963, which bears his most well known poem, Genbaku Shishu.

Genbaku Shishu (Poems of the Atomic Bomb) Japanese （人間を返せ） Transcription (Ningen wo Kaese) English Translation by John McLean in Hiroshima Piano (03:08-03:57) English Translation at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Monument Dedicated to Sankichi Tōge) ちちをかえせ ははをかえせ としよりをかえせ こどもをかえせ わたしをかえせ わたしにつながる にんげんをかえせ にんげんの にんげんのよのあるかぎり くずれぬへいわを へいわをかえせ chichi o kaese haha o kaese toshi yori o kaese kodomo o kaese watashi o kaese watashi ni tsunagaru ningen o kaese ningen no ningen no yo no aru kagiri kuzurenu heiwa o heiwa o kaese Bring back my father! Bring back my mother! Bring back the elderly! Bring back the young! Bring back my life... and the lives... of those destined to me! Bring back... all that is human, enduring peace. Bring back peace! Give back my father, give back my mother; Give grandpa back, grandma back; Give my sons and daughters back. Give me back myself, Give back the human race. As long as this life lasts, this life, Give back peace That will never end.