logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
50m 59s

1955: The Hiroshima Maidens

Slate Podcasts
About this episode

Ten years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, 25 women who’d been disfigured by the blast came to the United States. Those Japanese survivors would go to the White House and end up on a bizarre proto reality TV show. They’d also put their lives in the hands of American doctors, hoping that risky, cutting-edge surgeries might repair their injuries and give them a chance for a fresh start.


Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.


This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad. 


It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. 


Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Holly Allen created the artwork for this season.


Join Slate Plus to get a bonus 1955 episode at the end of the season. Slate Plus members also get to listen to all Slate podcasts without any ads. Sign up now to support One Year.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 2023
One Year: 1990 Trailer
Coming Wednesday Nov. 22, the sixth season of One Year covers 1990. It was a year when a controversial art exhibit became a First Amendment battleground, a single dad with a secret identity took on Big Tobacco, and President George H.W. Bush spoke out against his most-hated enemy ... Show More
1m 55s
Nov 2023
1990: Pizzastroika
Pizza Hut’s adventure in the Soviet Union was unlike any restaurant opening before or since. It involved a fleet of submarines, a very special pizza topped with tuna and salmon, and a casual dining spot on a mission to change the world.This episode was written by Kelly Jones and ... Show More
53m 11s
Nov 2023
1990: Mandrake the Magician
A middle-aged single dad in Chicago was outraged by all the cigarette billboards popping up in Black communities. In 1990, he picked up a paint roller and became an anti-tobacco vigilante. And he did it all under a secret identity.This episode was written by Josh Levin, One Year’ ... Show More
46m 49s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Gays Against Briggs | 2. Defend Our Children
In 1977, John Briggs was a small-time state senator with big dreams. But Briggs’ plan to ban gay and lesbian teachers from California schools changed the arc of his life and career. Suddenly, he was a right-wing hero, and a villain of the gay rights movement. And his message seem ... Show More
48m 16s
Aug 2022
An Enemy Such As This: Live in Gallup
<p>Red Nation comrade Melanie Yazzie hosts this live event exploring the life and legacy of Larry Casuse, featuring Ursula C. Carillo, Erika Casuse, author David Correia, and a musical performance by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jj.otero.art/">JJ Otero</a>.</p> <p><br /> Rea ... Show More
1h 21m
Mar 2023
Part One: Stonewall: The Criminal Queers Who Birthed a Movement
Margaret talks with Shereen Younes about the early fight for LGBT rights and how it was a literal fight, fought on every front.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
59m 16s
Jan 2022
Presenting 'Throughline': Nikole Hannah-Jones and the war over history
In this special episode from our friends at Throughline, co-hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei explore the war over history with Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at The New York Times and the creator of the 1619 Project. They discuss how the 1619 Project b ... Show More
48m 56s
May 2024
Gays Against Briggs | 1. A Hotbed of Homosexuality
In the 1970s, San Francisco became a welcoming home for tens of thousands of new gay residents—and a modern-day Sodom for the American right. With a moral panic sweeping across the United States, a Florida orange juice spokeswoman inspired an ambitious California politician to la ... Show More
45m 44s
Nov 2023
One Year: 1990 | 2. Mandrake the Magician
A middle-aged single dad in Chicago was outraged by all the cigarette billboards popping up in Black communities. In 1990, he picked up a paint roller and became an anti-tobacco vigilante. And he did it all under a secret identity.This episode was written by Josh Levin, One Year’ ... Show More
46m 46s
Jun 2019
What Do We Have in Common?
For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, we talk about what actually happened and where we go from here. — Marc Stein is a historian at San Francisco State University. — Karla Jay is an author, activist, and Professor Emeritus at Pace University. — Raquel Willis is the ... Show More
28m 34s