Visit SotyMap exhibit:
“Akiko Mizuta Seitelbach Digital Story,” by Haruko Wakabayashi, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, Rutgers University
Akiko Mizuta Seitelbach lived through some of the most turbulent and defining moments of the 20th century, bearing witness to war, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection. Born in Shanghai on October 25, 1922, to a Japanese family, she was adopted in infancy by her aunt and uncle after the early loss of her mother. Her formative years were spent in Nagasaki, Japan, where she enjoyed a stable and privileged upbringing and graduated high school in 1938.
Her life changed irrevocably on August 9, 1945, when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Akiko, then working for Mitsubishi Electrical Works, was just 1.5 miles from ground zero. She survived the blast, an experience that would shape the rest of her life.
After Japan’s surrender, Akiko became an interpreter for the U.S. Marines and the American Occupation Army in Nagasaki. It was during this time that she met Leo Seitelbach, an American soldier stationed in Japan. They married in 1953, and Akiko moved to the United States—beginning a life that would span cultures, continents, and generations.
Between 1955 and 1963, the couple lived in Puerto Rico, Staten Island, and Germany as Leo’s military assignments changed. Akiko’s fluency in English and cross-cultural adaptability helped her secure jobs in each location—from managing a dress shop in Puerto Rico to working at the Army library in Germany. Eventually, they settled in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Rossmoor, a retirement community in Monroe Township, New Jersey, around 1980.
In New York, Akiko worked at Fuji Bank and Kanebo USA, commuting to Manhattan daily well into her seventies. She retired from Kanebo at age 75, but her advocacy and storytelling continued. In her retirement, Akiko became an active cultural bridge, often speaking at community events to introduce American audiences to Japanese culture. Her favorite activity—folding paper cranes—symbolized peace, healing, and remembrance.
In 2004, she published her memoir, Nagasaki Woman, a powerful account of her life before and after the bombing. Over the next decade and a half, she spoke to students, scholars, and the public at schools and universities including Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. She was also interviewed by Rutgers University and the BBC. In each of these appearances, she offered not only historical testimony but also a heartfelt message about love, survival, and cross-cultural friendship.
Akiko passed away on February 17, 2022, at the age of 99. Her life offers a rare, personal window into the devastation of nuclear war, as well as a remarkable testament to endurance and reconciliation. Through her story, we remember not only the horrors of the past, but also the possibilities for peace. As new global conflicts emerge, Akiko’s message of compassion and international friendship remains more vital than ever. Her voice continues to inspire us to listen, learn, and build bridges, not bombs.
