This week, Hiroshima recognized the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city. Many of the remaining and older survivors took the time to make a statement regarding their frustration and fear over the large number of government leaders around the world who still support the use of nuclear weaponry.
This week marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. A majority of the survivors are now older, with the average age exceeding 86, and as they reflected on what life has looked like since that devastating day 80 years ago, one thing has remained consistent.
The survivors continue to express their disdain, frustration, and more importantly fear over the consistent rise of development and support for using nuclear weapons by government leaders around the world.
“There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years. That’s why I want to share my story as much as I can,” Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said to NPR.
On August 6th, 1945 the bombing of Hiroshima destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 70,000. On August 15th, Japan surrendered and World War II was over. To this day, the historic moment is remembered, and felt heavily by the survivors and citizens of Japan.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui has warned against the growing acceptance of military bodies using nuclear weapons for national security specifically during Russia’s war in Ukraine and current conflicts in the Middle East. Matsui has urged younger generations to do the research to understand the “misguided policies which could cause utterly inhumane” consequences in the future.
“These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history. They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.”
Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for their work towards nuclear abolishment, recently released a statement echoing the message of the mayor.
“We don’t have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever. Our biggest challenge now is to change, even just a little, nuclear weapon states that give us the cold shoulder.”
During the 80th anniversary ceremony, around 55,000 people gathered including representatives from 120 nations and regions, including Russia and Belarus. There was a minute of silence while a peace bell rang at 8:15 a.m., the time when the US B-29 was dropped on the city.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city’s mayor, and other officials all laid flowers at the cenotaph while dozens of white doves were released after the mayor’s speech as a symbol of peace.
Survivors and their families also began paying tribute before the ceremony at Peace Memorial Park, which is located right by the hypocenter of the nuclear blast that occurred 80 years ago.
74-year-old retiree Kazuo Miyoshi came to honor his grandfather and two cousins who were killed in the bombing, and spoke to the press about how he prayed that the “mistake” will never be repeated again so no other families have to suffer.
“We do not need nuclear weapons.”
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that “there is hope,” praising Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize and re-commitment to a nuclear free world that they declared in a “Pact for the Future” last year.
“Remembering the past is about protecting and building peace today and in the future.”
The anniversary comes at a time when nuclear weapon possession as a means of deterrence from conflict is supported by many major international government bodies. Just recently survivors expressed their outrage over president Donald Trump’s remarks justifying an attack on Iran in June by comparing it to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“It’s ridiculous, I don’t think we can get rid of nuclear weapons as long as it was justified by the assailant,” said Kosei Mito, a 79-year-old who was exposed to radiation while he was still in his mother’s womb.
The government of Japan has also rejected the survivors request to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or attend any meetings even as observers due to their placement under the protection of the US nuclear umbrella, according to NPR.
The Japanese government has also never given compensation to civilian victims, and has only paid war veterans and their families, despite survivors’ pleas. They also are still waiting to have acknowledgement from the US government for their role and responsibilities in the civilian deaths.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
