How does Japan remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Explore some of the ways Japan marks the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorials.
Image: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial | Shutterstock.com
The world forever changed in August 1945, when the US detonated two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki – the first and last use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.
Although the bombings marked the end of WWII, the human cost was significant. Between 150,000 and 246,000 innocent civilians are thought to have lost their lives.
Every year, Japan hosts memorials to ‘console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing[s]’ and ‘pray for the realisation of lasting world peace’. Keep reading as we share some of the key events, including the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremonies.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Following the end of the conflict in mainland Europe, the Allies gave Japan a choice – surrender or suffer the consequences. The deadline passed without any resolution, so the US began planning the deadliest airstrikes the world has ever seen.
First, the Allies targeted Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, at approximately 8:15am local time. The city was an important supply and logistics base that mass-produced parts for planes, rifles, handguns and other weapons.
Colonel Paul Tibbets was flying the plane that day. When the bomb dropped, he said, ‘The whole sky lit up when it exploded… there was nothing but a black boiling mess hanging over the city… you wouldn't have known… Hiroshima was there.’
A few days later, on 9th August 1945, at approximately 11:02am local time, the US bombed Nagasaki – one of the largest seaports in the southern region. Although the bomb was more powerful, the aftermath was localised. The rocky hillsides of the Urakami Valley absorbed the blast and prevented the catastrophic firestorms that had swept through Hiroshima.
Nevertheless, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) estimates the overall death toll was between 60,000 to 80,000.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
Today, Hiroshima is a vibrant tourist destination overflowing with temples, shrines, green spaces and historically significant monuments. These include the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (the only remaining structure from the bomb's hypocentre) and the Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony takes place at the latter. People of all nationalities gather around the Cenotaph to listen to the Mayor's Peace Declaration, which calls for the abolishment of atomic weapons. At exactly 8:15am, the Peace Bell rings to mark the start of a minute's silence to remember the victims.
Alongside the ceremony, plenty of other events take place across the city. Floating lanterns illuminate the Motoyasu River, carrying messages of peace and hope. Tourists might be interested in a Hiroshima Peace Tour that tells the story of the bombing through the lens of civilians and their families.
Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony
Similar to Hiroshima, the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony is held every year on 9th August to honour the dead and ‘spread the prayer for everlasting world peace’. It's held at Nagasaki Peace Park – a tranquil green space just north of the bomb’s hypocentre.
The Mayor of Nagasaki leads the proceedings, which are attended by residents, family members and anti-nuclear activists from across the globe. Afterwards, guests might like to visit the ‘Peace Symbols Zone’. Here, they’ll find a collection of monuments donated from different countries as marks of respect.
These include ‘Protection of Our Future’ from Middelburg (Nagasaki's sister city in the Netherlands), ‘Constellation Earth’ from St. Paul, Minnesota (Nagasaki's sister city in the US) and ‘Triumph of Peace over War’ from San Isidro, Argentina.
Peace Crane Project
The Peace Crane Project is a worldwide initiative that invites young people to create an origami crane, attach a message of peace, and then exchange it with someone from a different country. The overall goal is to spread love across borders.
The idea came from the story of Sadako Sasaki, who was only two years old when Hiroshima was bombed. Despite surviving the blast, she later contracted ‘atomic bomb disease’, which is an umbrella term for any injury or illness caused by radiation. She died at 12 years old.
During her time in the hospital, a friend told her that if someone folded 1,000 paper cranes, they'd be cured of illness. Inspired, she began creating the birds from whatever material she could find. Although she realised she wouldn't survive, she believed the cranes were a symbol of hope and happiness.
Three years after Sadako died, her loved ones received permission to erect the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Park – a sobering reminder of how many babies and children died in the attack.
