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Kokura Spared: The City That Twice Avoided the Atomic Bomb

Kitakyushu, Japan – A historical near-miss has resurfaced as the world reflects on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. the city of Kokura, now part of Kitakyushu, was the primary target for the second atomic bomb dropped on Japan in august 1945, but cloud cover forced the bomber, the B-29 Bockscar, to divert to Nagasaki.

The March 9, 1945, conventional bombing raid on Tokyo, known as Operation Meetinghouse, remains one of the most destructive single air raids in history. Estimates suggest over 83,000 people where killed, and more than one million were left homeless. This context underscores the escalating intensity of the allied campaign against Japan in the lead-up to the atomic bombings.

When Bockscar arrived over Kokura on August 9, 1945, the city remained largely undamaged by prior bombing. US military planners had deliberately avoided extensive conventional bombing of potential atomic targets – including Kokura – to accurately assess the effects of a nuclear weapon.The initial target list included Kokura, Nagasaki, Niigata, and Sasebo.

Nagasaki was added to the target list relatively late in the process, specifically at the behest of US Secretary of War Henry Stimson.Stimson successfully argued to president Harry Truman that destroying Kyoto, the former imperial capital, would severely hinder post-war reconciliation efforts. Though, historians like Richard B.Frank have suggested Stimson also had personal ties to Kyoto, having honeymooned there and visited multiple times.

A Complex Legacy of Relief and Remembrance

Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, six days after the nagasaki bombing.

Kitakyushu’s escape from atomic destruction was met with a complex mix of relief, sorrow for Nagasaki, and empathy. The city now houses a nagasaki Atomic Bomb Monument, located within a park built on the site of a former munitions warehouse. As 1973, annual commemorations on August 9th have honored the suffering of Nagasaki and acknowledged Kokura’s near fate.

The Kitakyushu city Peace Museum, opened in 2022, further explores this history. For decades,Kitakyushu and Nagasaki have maintained strong friendly ties,recognizing their shared,intertwined destiny.

However, Kitakyushu’s post-war experience wasn’t without its challenges. Rapid industrialization during Japan’s reconstruction led to severe pollution in Dokai Bay, threatening its ecosystem. Through decades of investment in renewable technologies, the city has transformed itself into a leader in environmental sustainability, demonstrating a commitment to learning from the past and building a sustainable future.

The pilot of the Bockscar, Major charles W. Sweeney, was 27 years old at the time of the Nagasaki mission. the bomb, nicknamed “fat Man,” had a yield of approximately 21 kilotons of TNT. The official estimated death toll in Nagasaki is around 74,000 by the end of 1945,though estimates vary.

Also check out the video: Residents of Hiroshima are preparing to commemorate 80 years of atomic bombing tragedy