A Bomb Japan: A Simple Guide to Understanding It All
Interest in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has intensified due to U.S. President Barack Obama visiting the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima in May 2016. A truly momentous occasion, if there ever was one, since no other sitting president had set foot in both cities after World War II before. Thus, won't you be interested to read a succinct account of the bombings, Hiroshima and Nagasaki's push for a nuclear-free world as well as movies that educate you from a cinematic perspective?
Crucial facts about the bombings
Do you know that neither Hiroshima nor Nagasaki featured in the target list for the bombings? Kyoto was a prime target, but thanks to the intervention of the US Secretary of War Henry Stimson, it was eventually dropped from the list as Mr Stimson wanted it to be preserved for future generations. Ironically, since Hiroshima had emerged pretty unscathed from the Allied bombings, it was selected as the site for an A-bombing because determining its effects would then be relatively easy. Similarly, Nagasaki was chosen as a target because it had remained relatively intact.
On 6 August 1945 - the day of the first A-bombing - B-29 pilots decided to zero in on Hiroshima due to the optimal weather conditions. At 8.15 a.m., "Little Boy", the code name of the first A bomb - was dropped on Hiroshima, unleashing the equivalent of 12,500 tonnes of TNT. Three days later, the second bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man", descended upon Nagasaki. As "Fat Man" used plutonium, it was twice as powerful as "Little Boy" and yielded about 22,000 tons of TNT.
Repercussions of the bombings
"Little Boy" completely devastated Hiroshima City, with 140,000 people killed. Tens of thousands perished instantly from unbelievable temperatures of about 7,000 degree Celsius at the epicenter of the blast while many others died from their injuries or illness in the weeks and months following the attack. Likewise, Nagasaki City suffered a loss of about 74,000 people, of which 8,000 of them were Catholics. For surviving Nagasaki Catholics who long enjoyed brisk relations with the West, it was particularly hard for them to accept the fact that their city was obliterated by a predominantly Christian nation, in a mission blessed by a Roman Catholic chaplain.
The adverse effects lasted way beyond the immediate devastation. The Japanese-U.S. Radiation Effects Research Foundation did a widespread study of 50,000 radiation victims in both cities and found out that approximately 100 people passed on from leukemia and 850 people suffered from radiation-induced cancers.
Advocating abolition of nuclear weapons
Displaying formidable tenacity after the A-bombings, the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki worked tirelessly to rebuild their homeland. They also took it upon themselves to be trailblazers to advocate for a world of nuclear disarmament, as illustrated in how they founded the organization Mayors for Peace in 1982 to bring together cities from all over the world to oppose nuclear weapons collectively. Thoughtfully curated exhibitions depicting the horrors of the A bombings are also held regularly both within and outside of Japan. President Obama's visit to Hiroshima Peace Museum exemplifies his political will to curb the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons. Nuclear abolition is an issue close to President Obama's heart - and a key reason why he garnered the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, so we can count on him to harness his political clout and lend weight to Mayors for Peace!
Thought-provoking movies you can watch
Nothing beats learning about the feelings and perspectives of A-bomb victims that watching movies that bring you on a heartrending journey with their main characters. For starters, you may want to check out "Haha to Kuraseba" in which acclaimed Arashi member, Kazunari Ninomiya, plays the ghost of a charming young man who died in the A bombing in Nagasaki. Concerned about his mother, he visits her to provide her companionship. On the other hand, history buffs will gravitate towards "Hiroshima", an eye-opening Canadian-Japanese co-production on the decision making process that led to the United States dropping the two A bombs. Interspersing actual historical footage with dramatizations and interviews with survivors, it is an honest and holistic account of the bombings.
Has your curiosity been piqued after reading this article? Of course, nothing beats making a trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki and soaking in the atmosphere that hints at their resilience and dynamism. I sure hope this article will help you appreciate the intricacies of this unprecedented event in preparation for your trip!
