Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: Survivor Advocacy Intensifies as Nuclear Threat Looms

HIROSHIMA, Japan (August 6, 2024) – As the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is observed, survivors and activists are voicing renewed urgency regarding the global nuclear threat. Concerns are escalating as nations continue to develop and stockpile increasingly powerful nuclear weapons,prompting a surge in international attention towards peace museums and survivor testimonies.

Setsuko Thurlow, a 91-year-old survivor (hibakusha) of the Hiroshima bombing, remains a prominent voice in the anti-nuclear movement. Thurlow, who was 13 years old when the bomb detonated on August 6, 1945, experienced the devastation firsthand, losing her sister and manny classmates. she now resides in fukuoka and actively participates in anti-war demonstrations,advocating for the complete abolition of nuclear weapons. Her experiences are documented in the film “Hibakusha” (2023), wich has been screened internationally.

“Some people have forgotten about the atomic bombings … That’s sad,” Thurlow stated,emphasizing the continued existence and development of nuclear arsenals. “If one hits Japan, we will be destroyed. If more are used around the world, that’s the end of the Earth,” she warned. “That’s why I grab every chance to speak out.”

Historical Context: the Atomic Bombings and Their Legacy

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped a uranium-based atomic bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy,” on Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 70,000-80,000 people.Three days later, on August 9, 1945, a plutonium-based bomb, “fat Man,” was dropped on Nagasaki, resulting in approximately 40,000-75,000 immediate deaths. These bombings, ordered by President Harry S. Truman, remain the only instances of nuclear weapons being used in warfare.

The bombings led to Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively ending World War II. Though, the long-term effects of radiation exposure continued to claim lives for decades, with estimates suggesting that by 2020, over 340,000 people had died consequently of the bombings and their aftermath. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, further underscored the dangers of nuclear technology and the potential for widespread radioactive contamination.

Rising International Awareness and Memorial visits

The 2023 G7 summit held in Hiroshima, coupled with the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing survivors, has significantly increased global interest in the events of 1945. Visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum have risen dramatically, with approximately one-third of visitors now originating from outside Japan. In 2023, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum welcomed 1.53 million visitors, a 25% increase from the previous year.

Samantha Anne, an American visitor to Hiroshima, expressed her desire to educate her children about the bombing’s consequences. “It’s a reminder of how much devastation one decision can make,” she said. Katsumi Takahashi, a 74-year-old volunteer guide, noted a concerning trend of diminishing awareness among Japanese youth regarding their own history. He specifically mentioned the importance of understanding the experiences of the hibakusha before their voices are lost.

Iida, a Hiroshima bombing survivor who now serves as a guide, regularly visits the Children’s Peace Monument, adorned with thousands of paper cranes – a symbol of peace popularized by Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died from leukemia caused by radiation exposure. Melanie Gringoire, a French visitor, emphasized the impact of hearing a survivor’s firsthand account: “It’s like sharing a little piece of history.”

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Associated Press video journalists Mayuko Ono and Ayaka mcgill contributed to this report.