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This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday
James Cameron has spent the past 25 years deeply involved with ‘Avatar,’ but he remains committed to eventually moving forward with “Ghosts of Hiroshima,” his next project outside the ‘Avatar’ universe
Although ‘Hiroshima’ has been in development for some time, it’s just gained a bit of momentum — Deadline reports that Martin Sheen has signed on to narrate the audiobook “Ghosts of Hiroshima,” which Cameron will adapted to the screen
Cameron has acquired the rights to Charles Pellegrino’s novel and intends to begin work on a “bold
uncompromising theatrical film” as soon as the schedule allows following the completion of the Avatar sequels
The book’s release coincides with the 80th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing
The film adaptation will partly center on the real-life account of a Japanese man who lived through the Hiroshima bombing
and endured the second nuclear blast there
Pellegrino’s work incorporates firsthand testimonies from survivors along with insights from the emerging field of forensic archaeology
“It’s a subject that I’ve wanted to do a film about
that I’ve been wrestling with how to do it
“I met Tsutomu Yamaguchi a survivor of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki
He was handing the baton of his personal story to us
I can’t turn away from it.” While visiting Yamaguchi
Cameron and Pellegrino pledged to “pass on his unique and harrowing experience to future generations.”
Hiroshima is poised to become Cameron’s first non-‘Avatar’ feature since 1997’s “Titanic.” He began developing the original ‘Avatar’ in 1999
it’s dominated his creative focus ever since
Cameron will have devoted nearly three decades almost exclusively to the Avatar franchise by 2027
That’s not to suggest the time was wasted—Cameron’s passion for the series is clear
and the films have achieved remarkable box office success
as someone who was captivated by the groundbreaking visual and visceral thrills of “The Terminator,” “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” “Aliens,” and “Titanic,” I can’t help but feel eager for the arrival of this next film
Early last year, Cameron shared his intention to film ‘Hiroshima’ before beginning work on ‘Avatar 4.’ Hopefully, that plan is still in motion, though he remains deeply involved in the post-production process. A few months later, Cameron confirmed that development was already underway for ‘Avatar 6’ and ‘Avatar 7.’
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After Christopher Nolan‘s award-winning “Oppenheimer” told the backstory of the U.S
government’s feverish development of the atomic bomb as race against the Nazis and ultimately was unleashed upon two Japanese cities in attempt to avoid a full-scale war on mainland Japan
Another dramatic WWII story told from the Japanese perspective is in the works from “Avatar” director James Cameron
with an adaptation of the Charles Pellegrino novel “Ghosts of Hiroshima.”
This budding war drama is expected to tell the story of Tsutomu Yamaguchi
who survived both atomic blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
And is expected to explore the stories of other survivors as they remain the only people in history to have had atomics unleashed upon them
The horrors they experienced didn’t end after the bombs dropped
and this year marks the 80th anniversary of the events
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds Developing ‘Deadpool’ Team-Up Movie At Marvel Featuring ‘X-Men’ Members, Is It ‘X-Force’?
after the hiring of actor Martin Sheen (“Apocalypse Now”) to do the narration on the audiobook has revealed that he’s hoping to make the pic his next non-“Avatar” effort and “uncompromising theatrical film,” but stopped short of sharing a timeline of his schedule
“It’s a subject that I’ve wanted to do a film about
over the years,” Cameron told Deadline of his desire to adapt Yamahuchi’s story
Cameron and Pellegrino pledged to “pass on his unique and harrowing experience to future generations.”
Cameron will combine “Ghosts” with another Pellegrino novel covering a similar subject matter
“The Last Train From Hiroshima,” as the two books will be used for a single film
An official synopsis for “Ghosts of Hiroshima”:
twenty-nine-year-old naval engineer Tsutomu Yamaguchi was on the last day of a business trip
looking forward to returning home to his wife and infant son
He survived the atomic blast and got on a train to Nagasaki
we don’t know exactly when Cameron plans to direct this highly anticipated WWII drama
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as we’ll certainly share updates on the film even if it takes a little longer than Cameron hopes to get in front of cameras
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Approximately 80,000 people are killed as a direct result of the blast
At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout
the United States dropped two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
What happened to people on the fringes of the blasts
warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties
ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end
If U.S. officials truly believed that they could use their atomic monopoly for diplomatic advantage, they had little time to put their plan into action. By 1949, the Soviets had developed their own atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race began.
Marking the anniversary of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing, this special—told entirely from the first-person perspective of leaders, physicists, soldiers and survivors—provides a unique understanding of the most devastating experiment in human history.
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on August 6th
In Philadelphia, delegates to the Constitutional Convention begin debating the first complete draft of the proposed Constitution of the United States. The Articles of Confederation, ratified several months before the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, provided for a loose confederation of U.S. states, which were sovereign in most of their affairs. On paper, Congress—the […]
In an ominous sign of the troubles to come, the Donner Party finds a note warning the emigrants that their expected route through the mountains ahead is nearly impassable. The Donner Party had left Springfield, Illinois, three months earlier. Led by two wealthy brothers, Jacob and George Donner, the emigrants initially followed the regular California […]
The C.S.S. Arkansas, the most feared Confederate ironclad on the Mississippi River, is blown up by her crew after suffering mechanical problems during a battle with the U.S.S. Essex near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Arkansas‘s career lasted just 23 days. In August 1861, the Confederate Congress appropriated $160,000 to construct two ironclad ships for use […]
On August 6, 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant meets with General Philip Sheridan at Monocacy Junction, Maryland, to give him his orders for his new role as commander of the Army of the Shenandoah. Those orders read, in part: “In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley…it is desirable that nothing should be left to invite […]
At Auburn Prison in New York, the first execution by electrocution in history is carried out against William Kemmler, who had been convicted of murdering his lover, Matilda Ziegler, with an axe. Electrocution as a humane means of execution was first suggested in 1881 by Dr. Albert Southwick, a dentist. Southwick had witnessed an elderly […]
Arthur Flegenheimer, who will go on to become one of New York’s most feared criminals under the name “Dutch Schultz,” is born in the Bronx. Thirty-three years later, his life came to a violent and bloody conclusion when he was shot down in the men’s room of the Palace Chophouse in Newark, New Jersey. After […]
On August 6, 1911, Lucille Desiree Ball, one of America’s most famous redheads and beloved comic actresses, is born near Jamestown, New York. At age 15, Ball went to New York City to attend drama school and become an actress. However, she received little encouragement and was rejected multiple times from Broadway chorus lines. After […]
On August 6, 1926, on her second attempt, 20-year-old Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the 21 miles from Dover, England, to Cape Griz-Nez across the English Channel, which separates Great Britain from the northwestern tip of France. Ederle was born to German immigrants on October 23, 1905, in New York City. She […]
Andy Warhol, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, is born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Warhol was a major pioneer of the pop art movement of the 1960s who later outgrew that role to become a cultural icon, known as a frail and diminutive man with a shock of silver-blond hair. […]
On August 6, 1930, New York Supreme Court judge Joseph Force Crater vanished on the streets of Manhattan near Times Square. The dapper 41-year-old’s disappearance launched a massive investigation that captivated the nation, earning Crater the title of “the missingest man in New York.” Born to Irish immigrants in 1889, Crater grew up in Pennsylvania and […]
On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act, guaranteeing African Americans the right to vote. The bill made it illegal to impose restrictions on federal, state and local elections that were designed to deny the vote to Black people. Johnson assumed the presidency in November 1963 upon the assassination of […]
The U.S. Army announces that Colonel Robert B. Rheault, Commander of the Fifth Special Forces Group in Vietnam, and seven other Green Berets have been charged with premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the summary execution of a Vietnamese national, Thai Khac Chuyen, who had served as an agent for Detachment B-57. Chuyen […]
On August 6, 1996, NASA and Stanford researchers announce they have found signs of Martian life in a meteorite discovered 12 years earlier in Allan Hills, Antarctica, causing a worldwide sensation. But some viewed the announcement skeptically, and the Martian life connection was later debunked. A NASA spokesman initially called the evidence of fossilized, one-celled […]
Learn why the holiday is so significant in Russia—and what distinguishes it from V-E Day.
While the war raged overseas, soldiers and civilians worked furiously to protect the capital against rising waters.
Many Allied bombings released the equivalent energy of 300 lightning strikes and temporarily weakened the ionosphere, say researchers.
The Los Alamos Historical Museum halted a Japanese exhibition on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki because of a controversy over its message of abolishing nuclear weapons.
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known for his work on Paper Towns and Robot & Frank
a movie that consists of villains from around the universe joining together and forming a team
It's essentially Marvel's Suicide Squad
and Schreier couldn't be more excited about the upcoming film
In a new interview with Collider
he talked about the unexpected inspiration for The Void
When asked about the design process and visual effects for the character
Schreier was definitely excited and said he could “nerd out” regarding the topic
and it started with Grace's references
It definitely came from images from Hiroshima and those kinds of shadows
It was this feeling that we want everything in the film not to feel like it's CG
even if we have some of the best visual effects companies in the world doing a ton of work on this movie.”
towards the end of World War II after Germany and Italy had been defeated
had been working on a project to develop a nuclear bomb
but the US was the first to successfully do so under the Manhattan Project
The decision was between launching a full scale invasion of Japan
The US chose the latter and the nuclear age began
The nuclear Hiroshima shadows Schreier is referring to are below
Schreier went on further to praise the work of the visual effects companies.
“I don't want to give them short shrift. We did a lot. They did a lot. The way to make great effects is to marry those two things together. I think that with that effect, it's developed with ILM. If you spend any longer than a frame and a half of animation between when they disappear and when they become a shadow, anything longer than that starts to feel like you're getting into CG vapor territory. So, it has to be quick, but then you almost feel exposed because it seems so simple.”
It sure sounds like Schreier is very appreciative and respectful towards the VFX companies’ work. It's nice to see, especially when VFX companies are frequently overworked and under appreciated.
Are you excited for Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments!
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In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, one on Hiroshima and one on Nagasaki.
The bombings on these cities several days apart killed more than 210,000 and led to a lifetime of serious health issues for thousands of others.
The devastating attack led to the end of World War II, when shortly afterward, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced that Japan would surrender.
As the 80th anniversary of the bombings approaches, there are a number of ways that Union will connect with this consequential moment in world history.
These include movie screenings, guest speakers and course material across interdisciplinary offerings.
“We are bringing science and humanities together in a powerful way to highlight a critical moment in our history,” said Jennifer Matsue, professor and chair of music, Asian studies and anthropology. She is helping coordinate all events.
“We need to keep reminding people to be fully aware of the dangers of atomic weaponry at a time when we are experiencing heightened global conflict.”
The first event is a free private screening for the campus community at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, of the documentary, “Okurimono” at Bowtie Movieland. The Canadian director, Laurence Lévesque, will host a Q & A after the screening.
The film tells the story of Noriko Oi, who decides to reconstruct the past of her mother, Mitsuko, a survivor of the atomic bomb, in the hope of passing down her cultural heritage to her children and healing the dark reminiscences of a tragic past.
“The film ‘Oppenheimer’ failed to transport audiences to the sites of devastation,” said organizer Jim de Sève, senior artist-in-residence, film studies, and co-director of the Film Studies program, sponsor of the event. “Okurimono does. And it does it with heart, civility and thoughtfulness.”
Co-sponsors are Asian studies, the Templeton Institute and the departments of History and Music.
Other films to be shown during winter term include “Gojira” in Matsue’s class, From Bombs to Buddhism: Fatalism, Technology and Modern Japanese Culture, and “Black Rain,” in Remembering World War II in Asia, a class taught by Joyce Madancy, professor of history.
A 1954 classic by the director Ishiro Honda, “Gojira” is the original appearance by Godzilla and considered a metaphor for the end of World War II and the detonation of nuclear weapons onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“Black Rain” is a 1989 masterpiece from Shohei Imamura that centers on the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and its effect on a surviving family.
Also, 1983’s “Barefoot Gen,” an animated film from director Mori Masaki, will be discussed in Madancy’s class and Japanese Manga and Anime, taught by Junko Ueno, professor of Japanese. The film “revolves around the life of 6-year-old Gen Nakaoka, who must grow up quickly due to the harsh reality of living through wartime food shortages and constant air raids in Hiroshima.”
Zakuro-Daiko, the Japanese Drumming and Global Fusion Band, will premiere a new musical work commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombings at its winter concert Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 1, at 1 p.m. in Emerson Auditorium in the Taylor Music Center
The ensemble (whose name translates to Garnet Drums) was established in 2007 by Matsue to bring Japanese music and culture to life on campus. The group performs a type of Japanese ensemble drumming that is popular in Japan and throughout the world.
In the spring, Joshua Pilzer, award-winning author of “Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of ‘Korea’s Hiroshima,’” will speak to students in Music and Trauma in World War II, a new class taught by Jin Byun, director of music performance. Details are being finalized.
Union’s expansive focus on the anniversary of the bombings follows the awarding of last fall’s Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors that was recognized for its efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Matsue acknowledged today’s students may not be aware of the first — and so far, only — wartime atomic bombings. But she believes it’s imperative to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear war, in hopes of never repeating the atrocities of the past.
“As educators, it’s important for us to get our students to think about that what’s happened in the past is relevant to what’s happening today,” she said. “That story can be told so much better through humanity.”
(518) 388-6000 Admissions: (518) 388-6112
Martin Sheen is lending his legendary voice to a story that promises to be as haunting as it is historic
and it’s all thanks to none other than James Cameron
The Titanic director has tapped Sheen to narrate the audiobook version of Ghosts of Hiroshima
This isn’t just any gig for Sheen — it’s a dream come true for Cameron
who’s had this project on his radar for a whopping fifteen years
“Martin Sheen is my dream come true to read this book for audio,” Cameron shared with Deadline
“His voice-over narration for Apocalypse Now still haunts me
he will give it the gravitas and humanity that it needs.”
that means a non-Avatar project is finally coming into the frame
The filmmaker has officially chosen Ghosts of Hiroshima as the basis for his next movie — his first non-blue-people film since Titanic ruled theaters back in 1997
Cameron is ready to dive in and bring this gripping story to the big screen
promising what he calls an “uncompromising theatrical film.”
The timing of Pellegrino’s book is no coincidence
Its release aligns with the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing in 1945
The story at its core is truly jaw-dropping — it follows the real-life journey of a Japanese man who
Ghosts of Hiroshima doesn’t just tell a powerful story; it unearths it
With firsthand accounts from bomb survivors and cutting-edge forensic archaeology
Cameron’s film — aims to capture history through the lens of science and human endurance
With Martin Sheen bringing his iconic voice to the audiobook
probably a few moments where you’ll just need to pause and take a deep breath
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TDLC Technical Deep Dive participants visiting Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park accompanied by Mayor Kazumi Matsui
the first thing that may come to mind is the devastation caused by the atomic bomb in 1945
Hiroshima's story is not just one of destruction but also of remarkable recovery and resilience
The city's post-war reconstruction offers valuable lessons for urban development, particularly about land management and administration. That’s why Hiroshima was chosen to host the latest World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) Technical Deep Dive (TDD)
The weeklong knowledge exchange workshop brought together land specialists from 10 low- and middle-income countries and a region to learn from Hiroshima and Japan’s expertise
As cities around the globe grapple with land-related challenges stemming from rapid urbanization
Hiroshima’s experience can teach us important lessons
Urban land management and administration are the foundation for efficient urban development
many developing countries face the challenge of rapid urbanization outpacing the maturity of their land administration systems
focused on the foundational role of securing land tenure and access for climate action
“The World Bank has launched recently an ambition to double our investments in land,” said Mika-Petteri Torhonen
Lead Land Administration Specialist at the World Bank
“That means that we will be engaging in more countries and cities with investments in land records
That will impact how land is used across the world.”
Hiroshima's post-war reconstruction is a compelling case study in both land administration and land management
the atomic explosion in 1945 caused catastrophic damage to the Motomachi district
which was where Hiroshima’s military facilities were concentrated
While some temporary public housing was built afterwards to house the survivors
Hiroshima still faced a severe housing shortage
informal settlements sprung up along the city’s riverbanks
The area’s redevelopment became an urgent municipal issue
The Motomachi Redevelopment Project began in 1969, facilitated by the Hiroshima Peace City Construction Law
This law provided special assistance from the national government
including the transfer of federal military-use lands to the city and implementation of land readjustment to enable the construction of residential housing
and civic facilities like the Hiroshima Central Library
thousands of people moved from the informal settlements into new mid- and high-rise apartments constructed in and around Moto-machi
finishing a massive postwar reconstruction project
Hiroshima's experience offers several valuable lessons for modern cities facing similar urban land challenges:
1. Land readjustment – a practice known in Japanese as “Kukaku seiri” - was a key part of Hiroshima’s reconstruction
land was redistributed among former owners after reserving space for green areas and roads such as the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Boulevard
resulting in major changes to the city’s urban layout
2. Community involvement was a crucial element
The city's recovery efforts involved significant community participation
with the city and prefecture government working with landowners and the people who lived in Motomachi’s informal settlements to propose infrastructure and facility improvements and move them into new homes
ensuring their needs and concerns were addressed
3. Comprehensive planning was a key aspect of Hiroshima's post-war recovery
including elements like rooftop gardens and sports facilities
This comprehensive approach ensured that the city's reconstruction was not just about rebuilding structures but also about creating a more livable and inclusive urban environment
Towards a more peaceful and livable future
the most important lesson we can learn from Hiroshima is the profound value of peace
As part of the workshop, participants visited Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park on the same day that the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo
a group of atomic bomb survivors for their nuclear disarmament efforts
The visit served as a reminder that peace is the bedrock of a more livable planet
As cities around the world navigate the complexities of urbanization
the lessons from Hiroshima's post-war reconstruction offer a roadmap for a more sustainable
Please view the event photos here
[NEW] TDLC publishes knowledge product "Overcoming Multiple Urban Crises: Lessons from the Reconstruction of Hiroshima"
TDLC packages Japanese best practices in urban development in collaboration with our CPP partner cities
This report examines Hiroshima’s recovery from the catastrophic impact of the atomic bomb
exploring strategies for recover from multiple urban crises
It highlights lessons applicable to other cities by analyzing Hiroshima's reconstruction process from short
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The Hiroshima session of the “Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security” was held in Hiroshima City for four days from November 13 (Wed.) to November 16 (Sat.)
the participants were divided into two groups to tour the monuments in Peace Memorial Park
including the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims and the Children’s Peace Monument
and received explanations about how each monument was built and how the buildings in the park were used before
Hiroshima Prefecture believes that as the hibakusha population ages
the role of the next generation of young people will be crucial to the continued dissemination of the message of nuclear abolition
and we emphasize that they be exposed to the reality of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima so that they can become the leaders of that next generation
I hope that participants will deepen their knowledge of the reality of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima through many experiences
including interaction with A-bomb survivors and visits to the Radiation Effects Research Foundation
and come to their own conclusions about what each of them can do
Each participant will keep in mind what they have learned and felt in Hiroshima
and each of them will present what they have learned in this program at tomorrow’s open session
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Martin Sheen has now signed on to narrate the audiobook version of Ghosts of Hiroshima
which Cameron will be adapting for the big screen
The film will detail the true story of a Japanese man who survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings
"He was handing the baton of his personal story to us
He last directed Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022 and next has Avatar: Fire and Ash and Avatar 4 in the pipeline
Japanese officials marking 79 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Tuesday urged world leaders to stop relying on nuclear weapons as a deterrent and take immediate action towards their abolishment
Doves fly over the cenotaph dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing during an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing
CORRECTS TO 79TH NOT 78TH - A man places incense in front of the cenotaph dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing
early in the morning before an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares to lay a wreath at the cenotaph dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing during an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing
People standing in front of the so-called Atomic Bomb Dome
look towards the cenotaph where an annual ceremony is held to mark the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a press conference in Hiroshima
2024 after he attended an annual ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing
TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshima officials urged world leaders Tuesday to stop relying on nuclear weapons as deterrence and take immediate action toward abolishment — not as an ideal
but to remove the risk of atomic war amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and rising tensions in East Asia
They commented as Hiroshima remembered its atomic bombing 79 years ago at the end of World War II
Hidehiko Yuzaki said nuclear-armed nations and supporters of atomic deterrence “deliberately ignore ..
the fact that once people invented a weapon
they will surely be used again someday,” Yuzaki said in his address at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
“Nuclear weapons abolition is not an ideal to achieve far in the future
it is a pressing and real issue that we should desperately engage in at this moment since nuclear problems involve an imminent risk to human survival,” he said
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said Russia’s war on Ukraine and the worsening conflict between Israel and Palestinians are “deepening distrust and fear among nations” and reinforcing a view that use of force in settling conflict is unavoidable
The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug
A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more
ending World War II and Japan’s nearly half-century aggression in Asia
About 50,000 people at the ceremony observed a minute of silence with the sound of a peace bell at 8:15 a.m.
His critics say it is a hollow promise because Japan relies on the U.S
nuclear umbrella for protection and has been rapidly expanding its military
the United States and other regional allies have been stepping up security cooperation in response to a more assertive China and the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea
Many survivors of the bombings have lasting injuries and illnesses resulting from the explosions and radiation exposure and have faced discrimination in Japan
106,823 survivors — 6,824 fewer than a year ago
and now with an average age of 85.58 — are certified as eligible for government medical support
according to the Health and Welfare Ministry
including those who say they were victims of the radioactive “black rain” that fell outside the initially designated areas of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima officials called on Kishida’s government to do more to provide support and address their wishes
known as “hibakusha,” continue to push for a nuclear arms ban as they desperately campaign to have their effort kept alive by younger generations
By Scott D. Sagan, Gina Sinclair | August 5
sit on the ground amid rubble and burnt trees
the United States had dropped an atomic bomb on the city--three days later a second one was dropped on Nagasaki
(Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
This reduction in atomic bombing approval over time has been cited as evidence of a gradual normative change in public ethical consciousness, the acceptance of a “nuclear taboo” or what Brown University scholar Nina Tannenwald has called “the general delegitimation of nuclear weapons.” This common interpretation of US public opinion
but most Americans remain supportive of the 1945 attacks
albeit wishing that alternative strategies had been explored
These conclusions can be clearly seen in the results of a new
that asked a representative sample of Americans about their views on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
examined alternative strategies for ending the war
and provided follow-on questions to determine how the public weighs the costs and benefits of different strategies
does not display an ethically based taboo against using nuclear weapons or killing enemy civilians
but rather has a preference for doing whatever was necessary to win the war and save American lives
and Emperor Hirohito was told he would not be subject to war crimes trials
US public opinion in 2015 and 2024. A 2015 replication of the 1945 Roper poll found that 14.4 percent of Americans felt the United States should not have used atomic bombs at all
that 31.6 percent thought a bomb should have been dropped in a demonstration strike on an unpopulated area
but that almost no one (less than 3 percent) wanted to use more bombs before Japan had a chance to surrender
we replicated the 1945 Roper poll again with a representative sample of 2,000 Americans on June 21
but then asked follow-on questions to help us determine what the public really meant when answering the survey
Such follow-on questions are necessary to understand the public’s deeper set of commitments and preferences
Did those opposing any use of the atomic bombs really support such a policy even if it meant ending the war without a Japanese government surrender
Or would they support dropping the bomb if Japan did not surrender
Would those who favor a demonstration strike today support bombing cities if the demonstration strike failed to compel Tokyo to surrender
or did they oppose atomic attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki under all circumstances
The percentage of respondents who said that the United States shouldn’t have used any atomic bombs at all increased from 4.3 percent in 1945
The percentage of respondents who preferred the demonstration strike option decreased from 31.6 percent to 20.9 percent
But what do these trends reveal about US opinion
Our follow-on questions were designed to measure the public’s true willingness to use nuclear weapons and kill enemy civilians
The respondents who chose “we should not have used any atomic bombs at all” were reminded that there was no immediate Japanese surrender and were therefore prompted with this follow up question: “The United States has warned Japan that it may face ‘prompt and utter destruction’ if it does not accept ‘unconditional surrender,’ but the Japanese government refuses to surrender
Which of the following options do you think the U.S
less than half (45.8 percent) of respondents who said they favored not using any nuclear weapons
then chose to end the war immediately and let Japan keep its government
while 19.19 percent opted for the demonstration strike option
and 10.5 percent chose to continue conventional bombing of Japanese cities until Japan surrenders
The respondents who chose Option 2 (the demonstration strike option) in this follow-up question were then given another follow-on question to answer: “The U.S
has dropped the first bomb on an unpopulated area
but the Japanese government refuses to surrender
Of the respondents who chose the demonstration strike option in this follow-on survey
only 16.17 percent chose to end the war immediately and let Japan keep its government; 40.58 percent supported dropping one atomic bomb; and another 4.35 percent supported dropping two bombs
15.22 percent respondents wanted to continue conventional bombing of Japanese cities until the government in Tokyo surrendered
Those who chose the demonstration strike option in the original polling question were also given a follow-on question: “The U.S
the majority (64.45 percent) the respondents who chose the demonstration strike option in the original question 1
chose the option to drop one atomic bomb on one city
and a second one on a city only if Japan didn’t surrender
Almost 10 percent wanted to drop two bombs
and 8.11 percent supported more conventional bombing attacks on Japanese cities
when reminded of the Japanese refusal to surrender
the strong majority (82.33 percent) of those who originally favored the demonstration strike then accepted nuclear or conventional attacks on Japanese cities
The basic finding that over 36 percent of Americans said today that the United States should not have used any atomic bombs cannot reasonably be interpreted as an indication of a widespread nuclear taboo
less than half of those respondents maintained that position after they were reminded (as was the case in 1945) that Japan had not accepted unconditional surrender prior to the atomic bomb attacks
A second novel finding relates to the public’s willingness to attack cities and thereby violate the basic law of armed conflict and the just war principle of non-combatant immunity
While only 41.3 percent of respondents were ultimately willing to use nuclear weapons against cities
many other respondents favored continuing the conventional bombing of Japan
Reasons given by respondents who had at first stated that they opposed nuclear attacks
but then favored continued conventional bombing once reminded that Japan had not accepted unconditional surrender included: “Because if humane tactics don’t work
then you gotta do what you Gotta do;” “Since they refuse to heed to the warning
then they deserve war;” and “If Japan doesn’t surrender than it’s time to show them what we can do.”
who posit that a decrease in willingness to use nuclear weapons is a result of broader acceptance of the just war principle of non-combatant immunity
) But many responses in the 2024 Roper Poll revealed something else: a notable percentage of respondents (15.92 percent) cited their beliefs on the importance of US isolationism and avoiding any engagement in foreign affairs
Respondents noted that the United States should “stop meddeling [sic] in other countries business and take care of poverty in their own home!” or that “the US spends too much time
and energy on foreign affairs;” “I don’t know why we would care about japan’s government
we need to focus on our own country.” “I think we should stay out of other countries’ business.” “U.S
interference is such war wasn’t necessary at all.” One respondent even argued: “We’ve spent a lot of funds meant for the nation and Americans on unnecessary external conflicts we should have stayed neutral as we did during the first world war.”
such as protection of friendly forces or an increased likelihood of victory
not through the deeply problematic instincts of the American public
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we promise our coverage will be understandable
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would pale on the planned assaults of the main Japanese Islands
If the purpose of the article is to shame us
I suggest you acquaint yourself with Paul Fussell’s “Thank God for the Atom Bomb.”
To ask these questions now or even many years after the end of WW II is not realistic for any number of reasons
Second and so important: the Japanese were fighting to the death
So if we had to invade Japan we would have lost a million more men
we in America did not fully understand the total effect and long-term human cost of nuclear weapons
We are sleep walking!… Read more »
What gets lost in the atomic bombing of Japan is the daily death rate from starvation (Japan
city firebombing where some bombing raids killed more people than the nuclear weapons and all of the other combat
Any alternative option that delayed the fast decisive end to the war implies lots of dead people
I suspect that if one asked China or Korea
one would find almost universal agreement that atomic bombing of Japan was a great idea because it quickly ended the continuing bloodbath
The Japanese Code of Bushido would not have allowed them to surrender unless they truly thought Japan would be annihilated
Part of the change in opinion is that history is so poorly taught these days in the public schools and history at the university level starts off with “the US is responsible for every evil thing that’s ever happened in the world.” How many of us would not be here now if our ancestors were killed in the invasion of the Japanese home islands
I really love how today’s “thinkers” apply their anti-military beliefs to… Read more »
It is well documented that after the Battle of Leyte Gulf
the Japanese were backed into a corner on their Homeland
The Emperor declared that he would instruct that every man
and child be trained and weaponized to fight the “American Savages” at every point as they arrived
The US leaders concluded that they had already lost so many troops
and marines ashore in Japan would be a virtual bloodbath
They had the nukes and decided to end this unprovoked Pacific war at that time
Mission accomplished and countless… Read more »
The selection of the survey questions seems irrationally constrained
While the option of a demonstration blast on a mountain top was certainly considered (as Jacob Brunovski later discussed with my parents) but was dismissed for its potential counter-productivity
the prime alternative to a nuclear strike was of course a massive seaborne invasion
Yet there are no survey questions reflecting that reality
Had such questions been included in the survey
along with the official projected casualty figures of subduing all hostile forces – around 600,000 allied troops and up to 6 million Japanese – respondents’ awareness would… Read more »
Very disappointing to see handwaving arguments here about the militaristic Japanese and the supposed US invasion
Most of Truman’s generals advised him not to do it
Here is a sample of their views: The Japanese had
in the defeat of Japan.— Fleet Admiral Chester W
Pacific Fleet, [101]The use of [the atomic bombs] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan
The Japanese were already defeated and ready to… Read more »
When the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Japan
we dropped the nuclear age on the entire world
What most people don’t realize is how many Americans have suffered and died as a result of nuclear weapons
(I was surprised to learn this when I began reading about nuclear history and policy several years ago.) This aspect of the story might change our perspective
or at least give our opinions sturdier legs to stand on
American perceptions of the bomb were shaped by the post-war public information campaign that is the basis for traditional nuclear history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate_over_the_atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
Gina Park Sinclair is a research assistant the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University. She is a 2024... Read More
Copyright © 2025 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. All rights reserved. Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 36-2136497 Terms of UsePrivacy Policy
documents showed Tuesday the names and other detailed identification information of American troops who died in the 1945 U.S
atomic bombing of Hiroshima after being held captive in Japan
The latest revelation followed a recently discovered U.S
report that confirmed that 12 American troops were killed in the blast that reduced the western city in Japan to ashes on Aug
But the one-page investigation report did not contain information that identified the 12 individuals
Kyodo News made information disclosure requests to obtain detailed documents from the U.S
Department of the Army and the National Archives and Records Administration
Information on all of the victims was disclosed
based on the names of the 12 that were made public through studies conducted by Shigeaki Mori
an 87-year-old Japanese historian and a survivor of the bombing
titled "Individual Deceased Personnel Files," compiled around 30 to 150 pages of information for each victim
including their dental identification results
was among two of the military personnel described as having "perished in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima," while three
were "killed in action" in Hiroshima on Aug
the papers said death while in action "on 6 Aug 45" had been established
the papers included a death notice sent to his family
saying he died "as the result of the atomic bomb of Hiroshima."
The remains of eight of the servicemen were first buried en masse at a mausoleum that the U.S
military set up in Yokohama during its occupation of Japan following the end of World War II
They were then sent to a national cemetery in the United States for reburial in 1949
described in the report as a 19-year-old "3rd class Navy radio operator," died on Aug
Their remains were returned to the United States between 1948 and 1949 after being cremated in Hiroshima and shipped via Yokohama and the Philippines
Regarding information on the remaining two victims
the disclosed records did not have any clear descriptions that linked their deaths with the atomic bomb blast
The disclosed materials were analyzed by Hitoshi Nagai
a professor of modern Japanese history at the Hiroshima Peace Institute
The atomic bomb that detonated over Hiroshima killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of 1945
A second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug
FEATURE: A-bomb survivor learns English to advocate for nuclear abolition
Nagasaki urges nuke abolition on A-bomb anniv. rocked by Israel snub
Dialogue critical to avoid nuke war: grandson of 'father of A-bomb'
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While wishing for a world without nuclear weapons
UNITAR and Hiroshima/Nagasaki partners for live streams on the morning of August 6 and August 9
the days the atomic bombs were dropped on the cities in 1945
two atomic bombs indiscriminately killed tens of thousands of people
profoundly disrupting and altering the lives of the survivors
the Peace Memorial Ceremonies are held to remember the victims and ensure not to repeat the evil
Peace Boat and local partners will share with you live the atmosphere from the moments of silence on the 79th anniversaries in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
speak with Hibakusha on that very morning from several venues that commemorate the consequences of the atomic bombings
they will introduce how younger generations try to learn and take over the legacy of survivors
Watch the Livestream (on Youtube)
Watch the Livestream (on Youtube)
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-governmental organisations in one hundred countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.This website was made possible thanks to the generous support of New Zealand and Swiss Loterie Romande
Like most public- and private-school students growing up in Duluth during the 1950s and 60s
we were conditioned to “drop and cover” under our old-style classroom desks should there be an atomic bomb or nuclear warhead heading for the Northland
because of its strategic location for iron ore and shipping
was a prime target for any Soviet bomber or strategic
One of my English-class assignments in high school was to read “Hiroshima” by John Hersey
the first author to give an account of the atomic bombing
we will mark the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima
Hoping to better understand what happened on Aug
I read M.G.Sheftall’s “Hiroshima The Last Witness” and came away with more than just another account of that day
Sheftall tells the story of the “hibakusha,” which is Japanese for atomic-bomb survivors
The few survivors of the original bombing are now 90-plus years old
literally moment by moment from its detonation
and what it does to anyone and anything near its ground zero
I do not intend here to pass judgment on the use of the bomb
Those judgments will always be the question of the times in this atomic age
(Full disclosure: my father — who served almost three years
transporting aviation fuel across the Caribbean
and Mediterranean — told me that had the bomb not been used and had the war not ended
he very well may have been involved in the future invasion of Japan.)
loaded with the atom bomb “Little Boy,” flew over the 245,000 people of Hiroshima
during the previous two years of attacking the Japanese islands with conventional firebombs
though a potential military target with its Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and airplane factories
After the presumed success of what an atomic bomb could do
military planners decided to use Hiroshima as the test case
Most of the population was going about their daily lives — until 8:15 a.m
Triggered to detonate at 600 meters (about six and a half football fields) above the ground for maximum damage
the bomb’s force caused a pressure wave that moved at twice the speed of sound and a fireball temperature of 7,000 degrees Celsius
Keep in mind the surface of the sun is 5,600 degrees Celsius
140,000 people were dead and those near ground zero were vaporized or burned beyond recognition
had their eyeballs literally plucked out of their sockets
only later to perish from burns or radiation poisoning
How did Japan come to this place of almost national suicide in world history
Japanese civilian and military authorities practiced media control for narrative management
This was very effective in controlling Japanese thought regarding war against the Western Powers from 1941 to 1945 and was full-on for state military policy
Japanese news media were complicit until the end of the war
The hibakusha felt not only survivor’s guilt but
many still felt it their duty to give their lives to the very emperor who had prolonged this national suffering
has elected a president who spoke of nuking a hurricane to change its direction
who preached a resumption of nuclear-weapons testing
asked why we are reluctant to use our nuclear weapons
Donald Trump has sought to control the media into his dictatorial
He has threatened to shut down media that are not “kind” to him
Are we entering a new age of fascist Germany
Tom Rauschenfels lives on Park Point and was a public-school art teacher for 35 years in Hermantown
In the United States the atomic bombssignaled military victory
In Japan the remaining survivors have been left to contemplatewhether the world has learned anything fromtheir trauma — or whether the world powersare on a collision course to repeat it
In the United Statesthe atomic bombs signaledmilitary victory
In Japan theremaining survivors havebeen left to contemplatewhether the world has learnedanything from their trauma— or whether the worldpowers are on a collisioncourse to repeat it
Hennigan and Spencer CohenPhotographs by Kentaro Takahashi
Hennigan and Spencer Cohen Photographs by Kentaro Takahashi
Share full article383383 The waiting room of the Red Cross hospital in downtown Hiroshima is always crowded
often by elderly people waiting for their names to be called
Many of these men and women don’t have typical medical histories
They are the surviving victims of the American atomic bomb attack 79 years ago
but it’s a day that the Japanese can’t forget
180 survivors — known as hibakusha — of the blasts each day
When the United States dropped an atomic weapon on Hiroshima on Aug
the entire citizenries of both countries were working feverishly to win World War II
the bomb represented a path to victory after nearly four relentless years of battle and a technological advance that would cement the nation as a geopolitical superpower for generations
Our textbooks talk about the world’s first use of a nuclear weapon
where the United States detonated a bomb just three days later
talk about how those horrible events must be the last uses of nuclear weapons
A view across the Motoyasu River of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima
The bombs killed an estimated 200,000 men, women and children and maimed countless more. In Hiroshima 50,000 of the city’s 76,000 buildings were completely destroyed. In Nagasaki nearly all homes within a mile and a half of the blast were wiped out
In both cities the bombs wrecked hospitals and schools
Americans didn’t dwell on the devastation. Here the bombings were hailed as necessary and heroic acts that brought the war to an end. In the days immediately after the nuclear blasts, the polling firm Gallup found that 85 percent of Americans approved of the decision to drop atomic bombs over Japan
Even decades later the narrative of military might — and American sacrifice — continued to reign
This article is part of the Opinion series At the Brink,about the threat of nuclear weapons in an unstable world. Read the opening piece here
This article is part ofthe Opinion series At the Brink,about the threat of nuclearweapons in an unstable world.Read the opening piece here
Countries like the United States, China and Russia are spending trillions of dollars to modernize their stockpiles. Many of the safeguards that once lowered nuclear risk are unraveling, and the diplomacy needed to restore them is not happening
The threat of another blast can’t be relegated to history
it is necessary for Americans — and the globe
really — to listen to the stories of the few human beings who can still speak to the horror nuclear weapons can inflict before this approach is taken again
Chieko Kiriake was on a break from her job at a tobacco factory in Hiroshima
People were walking around with their clothes burned off
so much so that you couldn’t tell who was who
Their skin would fall right off and hang off their hands at the fingernails
It was almost like they had black seaweed hanging from their hands
But I was thankful that some of my classmates were alive
that they were able to make their way back
Swarms of flies came and laid eggs in the burns
and the larvae would start squirming inside the skin
The maggots would feast on the blood and pus and get so plump and squirm
so I brought my chopsticks and picked them out one by one
I spent hours picking those maggots out of my classmates.”
Hiroe Kawashimo’s mother was at home in Hiroshima
She was in utero; her mother was around 1 kilometer from ground zero when she was exposed to the bomb’s radiation in Hiroshima
according to her mother — apparently so small
She was one of numerous children exposed to the bomb while in utero and diagnosed with microcephaly
Seiji Takato was at home with his mother in Hiroshima
And I don’t really remember the immediate symptoms
Later the lymph nodes in my armpits and legs swelled up
and I had to have them cut open three times.”
Seiichiro Mise was at home in Nagasaki playing the organ
people would say that if you married an atomic bomb survivor
I got a call from the hospital saying my baby had been born
‘Is it a boy or girl?’ I didn’t even ask that
‘Does my baby have 10 fingers and 10 toes?’
But then he smiled and said it was a healthy boy
Kunihiko Sakuma was at home with his mother in Hiroshima
There are people today who still find it difficult to talk about what they experienced
where were you during the bombing?’ People died or got sick not just right after the bombing
I realized their suffering was still ongoing
The atomic bomb is such an inhumane weapon
and the effects of radiation stay with survivors for a very long time
That’s why they need our continued support.”
His father was at work next to Hiroshima Station and never came home
I was officially recognized as an atomic bomb survivor
I hated even looking at the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Health Handbook
and I quickly put it away in my desk drawer
I didn’t tell anyone that I was a survivor.”
Masao Tomonaga was asleep on the second floor of his home in Nagasaki at the time of the bombing
and she suffered a severe thigh bone fracture
We examined her blood and found that acute leukemia was quickly growing inside her body
‘I have long believed the atomic bomb was living
surviving inside.’ Maybe she had a feeling that the atomic bomb had entered her body
She didn’t use ‘radiation’ — a special term
‘The atomic bomb entered me and survived until now.’”
Shigeaki Mori was crossing a bridge on his way to school in Hiroshima
I speak as someone who suffers until this day: The world needs to stop nuclear war from ever happening again
I see politicians talk about deploying more weapons
Keiko Ogura was standing on a road near her home in Hiroshima
‘For we shall not repeat the evil’ — this is the pledge of survivors
Now what survivors worry about is to die and meet our family in heaven
On this planet there are still many many nuclear weapons
and then I’ll meet my daughter I couldn’t save
what did you do to abolish nuclear weapons?’
A small pink booklet fits squarely in Shigeaki Mori’s breast pocket — a cherished possession that over the years has become more closely tied to his self-identity
The Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Health Handbook grants him access to free medical checkups and treatment
Flip open the first page to see his distance from the bomb when it detonated that bright August morning and flip another page to begin tracing years of his health history
in 2016 — in sharp contrast to the regular visits of American leaders to Europe to commemorate major battles there
Mori was one of two survivors who spoke briefly with Mr
leading to an emotional embrace between the two men
Mori proudly displays a photograph of that moment
alongside dozens of other mementos — including a photo with the pope — from his work over decades to remind the world of what happened in Hiroshima
Obama’s visit would bring an official apology for the bombings; it did not
did not shy away from recognizing the destruction of that day
The camphor trees at Sanno Shrine in Nagasaki survived the bombing and continue to grow
“We stand here, in the middle of this city, and force ourselves to imagine the moment the bomb fell. We force ourselves to feel the dread of children confused by what they see. We listen to a silent cry,” Mr. Obama said
“Mere words cannot give voice to such suffering
but we have a shared responsibility to look directly into the eye of history and ask what we must do differently to curb such suffering again.”
“Someday the voices of the hibakusha will no longer be with us to bear witness,” Mr
That memory allows us to fight complacency
The Smithsonian is in the midst of planning an exhibition on World War II
It’s time for the next generation to bear witness and demand change
Listen to Chieko Kiriake and Keiko Ogura tell their stories in an audio essay from Times Opinion
Kathleen Kingsbury is the Opinion editor of The New York Times
overseeing the editorial board and the Opinion section
Hennigan writes about national security issues for Opinion from Washington
Spencer Cohen is an editorial assistant in Opinion
Cohen spent a week in Japan reporting for Opinion’s series At the Brink
Kentaro Takahashi is a photographer based in Kyoto
Source footage by Science Photo Library and Forrest Brown
This Times Opinion series is funded through philanthropic support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Outrider Foundation and the Prospect Hill Foundation
Funders have no control over the selection or focus of articles or the editing process and do not review articles before publication
Share full article383383Share full article383383Read 383 CommentsRead 383 CommentsShare full article383383Advertisement
By Erik English | August 5
Nagasaki in November 1945. (US Army Air Forces via japanairraids.org)
The only instances of atomic weapons being used against a civilian population occurred in 1945 at the tail end of World War II
“Little Boy” was detonated above the Japanese city of Hiroshima
The aftermath of the bombings was the complete devastation of both cities in which countless numbers of people lost their lives
nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein published original research with the Bulletin
describing the challenges of tabulating the casualties of the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Without accurate records of the population prior to the bombings
Allied forces and the Japanese government relied on proxy figures to come up with their estimates
those estimates were revisited to account for information that was excluded at the time
The result is a recognition that we may never be able to fully account for the devastation of one of the world’s deadliest weapons
Learn more in the Bulletin’s latest video and read more in Alex Wellerstein’s original piece for the Bulletin, Counting the dead at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel
“How many American lives were saved by the dropping of these two bombs by not having to send in Allied troops onto the Japanese mainland where a long
and very bloody war would have continued”
We cannot lose sight of the fact that Japan instigated this Pacific war
and therefore Japanese civilian blood is on the emperor’s hands
A more pertinent question would be How many lives have been lost
The number of people who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki pales in comparison to those who have suffered and died while mining of uranium (in America
Yellow Cake Miners); as a result of nuclear tests (in America
Downwinders and Atomic Vets); and as a result of hazardous waste storage — in American cities like St
Your premise is false and simply your assumption
I do not defend the nuclear industry as I know he they poisoned us knowingly even resulting in terrible deaths in some cases as well as debilitating conditions to different degrees
But those numbers are known and people damages are compensated by an act of Congress
I am myself a Cold War Warrior enriching ursnuoim for a brief period before developing new plastics that took me into both Russia and China
and my five business ventures to Japan got me to even Hiroshima for a day where Japanese people were… Read more »
Erik English is an associate multimedia editor at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He has worked at the International Atomic Energy... Read More
director Jake Schreier has pushed the MCU into unexpected territory
His choice of narrative has given the film a more serious tone
‘Thunderbolts*’ breaks new ground visually
Jake Schreier and his team made a bold decision early on: to use as many practical effects as possible
“If Florence Pugh wants to step off the second-tallest building in the world
That commitment extended to the creation of the film’s most chilling visual innovation: the Void
Introduced as a terrifying force that erases people with eerie efficiency
the Void’s visual design is deceptively simple and deeply haunting
Schreier revealed that the inspiration came from some of the darkest imagery in history: shadows left behind by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima
“It definitely came from images from Hiroshima and those kinds of shadows,” he explains
“That sense of presence and absence in one image
Rather than relying on a flashy CGI-heavy sequence
the team worked with ILM to design a fleeting
“If you spend any longer than a frame and a half of animation between when they disappear and when they become a shadow
anything longer than that starts to feel like you’re getting into CG vapor territory,” Schreier stated
making each Void encounter feel like a chilling whisper
What’s most impressive is how the visuals were driven by narrative needs
shifting environments that house some of the film’s most intense scenes were created with as many in-camera effects as possible
Schreier praised the production designers for constructing entire gravity-defying sets that feel tactile and lived in
“Because we’re trying to tell a human story
it just feels like the filmmaking wants to feel like it has that texture as well.”
In an interview with Collider
Jake Schreier opened up about how he approached ‘Thunderbolts*’ as more than just a franchise obligation
he aimed to build a film that could stand on its own
even for viewers who haven’t kept up with the ever-expanding Marvel catalog
best known for his work on Netflix’s ‘Beef’
has earned a reputation for telling deeply human stories
his approach to ‘Thunderbolts*’ is the same
One of the film’s most compelling challenges
was how to move long-time characters forward in new ways
make it work if people haven’t seen any of these things,’” he says
That approach forced the creative team to walk a tightrope
Schreier then pointed to Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes as a perfect example
‘Maybe it’s time to approach this from a new angle and help people through a new path,’” Schreier explains
how frustrating politics can be.” That leads him back to the battlefield
as a reluctant leader among misfits who understand pain like he does
the right home for him all along has been with a team that you never would expect.”
This article first appeared on FirstCuriosity and was syndicated with permission
customized to your favorite sports and teams
Hiroshima Prefecture and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (“ICAN”)
will hold the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2024 (hereafter referred to as “the Academy”)
we aim to nurture global leaders who can make concrete contributions towards a more peaceful and secure world
Join us for this opportunity to meet and learn together with inspiring
Hiroshima Prefecture and ICAN signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration in the field of human resource development for the next generation toward nuclear weapons abolition
Both established an executive committee to launch the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy
a course that aims to nurture global leaders who can make concrete contributions towards a more peaceful and secure world
This year will mark the sixth time the course has been held
The Academy 2024 is planned to be held in three parts: online learning and webinars
Participants are expected to complete all three parts
the G7 Hiroshima Summit highlighted global challenges to security and sustainability as well as measures to address them
including the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament
clean energy and environmental conservation
it is clear that security and sustainability are deeply linked
A broad understanding of security is necessary to address current global challenges
including nuclear weapons: Beyond military might
we must consider human and environmental security that mends divisions and inequalities and preserves a livable planet
Centered on the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons
the Academy fosters discussion among diverse voices
as defined by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
approximately four participants will be chosen by invitation
one shall have a connection to Hiroshima Prefecture
A scholarship program is available for participants who cannot afford the travel expenses
Scholarships will be provided by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and crowdfunding
we have lowered the total number of program participants in order to provide scholarships to a greater percentage of participants
Applicants are encouraged to seek financial support from their school or affiliated organization
and the organizers can issue an official letter of support for this purpose
In addition to participants selected from the general applicant pool
the 2024 Academy will include approximately four participants from G7 member nations invited directly by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government
These invitations aim to pass on to the next generation the “will to abolish nuclear weapons” confirmed by G7 leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit held in 2023
self-paced learning and participating in webinars at set times
participants will learn about four themes:
During the interactive and engaging webinars
participants will have opportunities to learn both from guest educators
including hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors)
During this time of rising global tensions
it is increasingly important to learn together from Hiroshima and its people
Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn in-person about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons through activities such as directly hearing hibakusha testimonies and visiting A-bombed sites and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
along with other learning about other topics related to nuclear weapons
there will be an online session for them to reflect on what they have learned and share how they will apply it in their respective activities and locations
Join us for one of two online information sessions to learn more about the program and the application process
The content of both sessions will be the same
Applicants shall meet all the following requirements:
Please apply by filling out the Application Form via Google Form here
The selection committee will review the applications based on the requirements above
perspectives on nuclear weapons and global security
A phone or Zoom interview (in English) may be conducted
applicants will be contacted by the organizer to schedule the interview
Applicants will be notified of the selection results on Tues
if a successful applicant engages in inappropriate behavior
the organizer reserves the right to cancel their participation
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Megan Lolley carefully folded a small piece of colorful paper
The small ornament joined thousands of similar origami displayed to represent world peace in a place of once magnificent horror
In March 2024, Lolley along with Jason Cahoon, University of Idaho English graduate students, traveled to Hiroshima University to represent U of I and the Habib Institute for Asian Studies at an international sustainability conference
the experience was an intersection of scholarship and personal growth
The backdrop of Hiroshima’s history — it was one of two Japanese cities targeted with an atomic bomb that shepherded the end of World War II — provided the perfect canvas for Lolley’s immersion into discussions of peace and sustainability
From the bustling streets to the tranquil landmarks
every moment in Hiroshima was a testament to the city’s enduring spirit
“I was overcome by the entire experience,” Lolley said
“The city and culture of Hiroshima were beautiful
I enjoyed some fantastic food and I was happy to learn more about the work that scholars around the world are doing to understand pathways to peace and sustainability.”
As a representative of U of I’s commitment to sustainability and peace
Lolley engaged with attendees of the conference
called the Conference for the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS)
She forged connections and shared insights
conference participants visited our beautifully arranged U of I table with its overwhelming number of gold brand
“It was great to get to know so many people with so many different interests and backgrounds.”
Lolley chaired an Education for Peace session that explored the role of education to foster sustainable peace
Participating in the 1,000 cranes project dedicated to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima City’s Peace Memorial Park was a highlight of Lolley’s experience
The brightly colored origami cranes displayed en masse at the park are known as symbols of peace
They are folded as a wish for peace in many countries around the world and sent to the city park for display
The connection between paper cranes and peace can be traced back to a young girl named Sadako Sasaki
who died of leukemia ten years after the atomic bombing
“I found myself toiling over the smallest square of paper,” Lolley said
“It is safe to say I need to practice my origami skills
but I am proud of my haphazard tiny crane!”
“Participating in this unique opportunity for cultural exchange and professional development allowed me to understand how important it is to carry these ideas beyond the academic sphere and enact them in our personal lives,” Lolley said
and I am honored to have been a part of it,” she said
“I'm grateful to the Habib Institute for Asian Studies for the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful endeavor.”
Article by Christine Luten
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has donated a sculpture of a little boy’s tricycle that was found the day Hiroshima was attacked with an atomic bomb to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum and the City of Geneva. The sculpture Future Memory- Tricycle
was inaugurated at the Museum on 19 September 2024 and will now remain on permanent display stands as a tribute to the victims of the atomic bombings of 1945
and the work of civil society and the other members of the international community
particularly states that have joined the TPNW
towards the elimination of nuclear weapons
Three-year-old Shinichi Tetsutani was riding his tricycle when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945
Shinichi was found by his mother near his beloved tricycle suffering from severe burns and other injuries
When donating the tricycle to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Please work to create a peaceful world where children can play to their heart’s content.”
“Future Memory - Tricycle” was made possible by the Tetsutani family’s support
They wish for a peaceful world without nuclear weapons together with all Hibakusha
as the survivors of the atomic bombings are known
Shinichi’s actual tricycle has been on display at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum since 1991
leaving a lasting impression on visitors from around the world and symbolising hope and resilience
The sculpture was donated to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum and the City of Geneva by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in partnership with the artists from 1Future / Future Memory Project
Learn more
“It is a great honour to be able to donate this sculpture to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
The Red Cross was one of the first international organisations to reach Hiroshima after the atomic bombing and the ICRC has always been clear that the inhumane impact of nuclear weapons means they should never be used again and
Shinichi’s tricycle is a reminder of those terrible events and serves to motivate us to make sure we never let such a thing happen again.”
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum’s Director welcomed the sculpture and highlighted its significance: “Behind every conflict
there are always personal and unique stories that remind us of our shared humanity
The Hiroshima Tricycle is above all the story of a little boy
We are deeply grateful and honoured to be able to perpetuate his memory
now permanently installed in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum at the heart of Geneva
the world centre of humanitarian action and multilateral diplomacy.”
it was donated in honour of the efforts by governments and civil society leading to the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
Learn more about the sculpture’s creation and the Future Memory project at tricycle-geneva.ch and futurememory.jp
Listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify
In this special season of World War II On Topic
and the history and ramifications of the atomic bomb
The anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima was August 6
we hear from two extraordinary people who experienced the bombing
While much has been written and said on the subject
excerpted from the oral histories given by Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk and Ittsei Nakagawa
Van Kirk was the navigator on the Enola Gay
the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima
He was the last surviving member of the Enola Gay crew before his death in 2014
Nakagawa was a Japanese American from California who got stuck in Japan due to the war
on that fateful day and survived to tell his experience
These oral histories were recorded by the Museum and provide a first-person look into the lives of those who experienced these astonishing and terrifying events
Catch up on all episodes of World War II On Topic and be sure to leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform.
the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima
journalist John Hersey’s article “Hiroshima” forever changed how Americans viewed the atomic attack on Japan
which premiered on the Museum’s Facebook page
recounts how John Hersey got the story that no other journalist could—and how he subsequently played a role in ensuring that no nuclear attack has happened since
was one of the first to raise terrifying questions for humanity about the successful splitting of the atom
World War II On Topic is made possible by The Herzstein Foundation
It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July the 26th was issued at Potsdam
Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum
they may expect a rain of ruin from the air
the like of which has never been seen on this Earth
was visiting his grandparents in Japan when war broke out
who recalls a telephone conversation with pilot Paul Tibbets about a special mission
You never heard the word atomic used in our group and around our organization
And if you ever talked about anything nuclear or anything of this type
Paul would probably send you up to the Aleutian Islands
which is his favorite place to send people who talk too much
went home one day with one of our airplanes
showed the airplane to his parents and everything of that type
it was obvious we're going to do something different
There's only one hookup there instead of the regular bomb bay configuration
he had violated security and everything at that time
And I can remember looking at the guy and I said
“What the hell do you mean you think?” He says
“There are some people betting that that's not enough
That it'll have to be 50 miles away.” He says
“Some people are betting you can't get far enough away.” He said
you guys are dead.” Made me feel real good
everything was aimed at getting nine miles away
With the bomb on board and everything else
you couldn't get that airplane high enough
So you had to go down to a stripped airplane
the Japanese had no defenses against high-flying airplanes
Then at the end we put snap open bomb bay doors on
By the time that we were all finished and got our new airplanes built in Omaha
(The) best bombers in existence in the Air Force
And we knew this was going to be a very important thing
because (they) had guys with Tommy guns out guarding the briefing hunt and everything like that
And so they get us together and they give us a briefing
And then they tell us to go get some sleep
and they'll call us about 10 o'clock for the final briefing
How they expected to tell you you're going to go out and drop the first atomic bomb and then go get some sleep is absolutely beyond me
I know (bombardier Thomas) Ferebee didn't sleep
because we're all three in the same poker game
and this is where they tell you where all this air sea rescue ships are going to be
I don't want to get my feet wet.” And guess what
they even had a submarine in the Inland Sea
And then that gives the final frequencies for all the radio contacts and everything like that
And I'd always remember what we had for the final breakfast
and we had pineapple fritters for breakfast that morning
And then all down and got our equipment on and down to the airplane
Keg lights all lighting up the airplane all over
that was at the command of the Manhattan Project to record the thing for historical purposes
we all flew down to Guam to meet the press
because they were not allowed up on Tinian
And the only guy in the press (who) was allowed up there was Bill Lawrence of The New York Times
And he had agreed to it and he couldn't out write about it until it was released by the Manhattan Project
a lot of interviewing and everything of that type
it was time to get on the airplane and get rid of the cameras and crank up and go
And don't ask me what the other people did
Parsons and (Morris) Jeppson went back into the bomb bay
Our bomb operated on a simple gun principle
it fired a projectile of shaped U-235 into a fixed target of another shaped piece of U-235
created a critical mass and you got an explosion
the fact we were carrying an atomic bomb didn't bother me
but the fact they were back in the bomb bay fooling around with black powder
They did that while we stayed at low altitude until we got to Iwo (Jima)
took out the red plugs and put in the green or took out the green
took out the green plugs and put in the red plugs
But they had to do that before they could still go back in the bomb bay
They had a console sitting there right alongside of me
where they were keeping track of the circuitry of the bomb
and he was Deak Parsons to us on the flight
“what happens if all those green lights go out out and some red lights comes on?” And he says
“We're in a hell of a lot of trouble,” and that sort of thing
Like Tom didn't have anything to do until we got to the target
He was watching his instruments all the time
But Jeppson was back there and everything of that type
probably the same thing Dick Nelson was doing
Dick was reading a whodunnit about a young boxer and that sort of thing
So everybody had their thing they were doing
I could see the city of Hiroshima from a good 75 miles away
And we went in and we crossed the island Shikoku
we crossed the Inland Sea into a little town just east of Hiroshima
The winds from Japan were generally from the west to east
and easiest way to go would've been bomb downwind
You're getting the hell out of there faster
So that's the why we were bombing on the 270 heading
The winds that day were very light out of the south
We had taken a wind reading just at about every 5,000 feet on the way of our climb up there
so that I could tell Tom just about what the wind was going to be for his bomb site and everything of that type
if we'd ever sat on a bomb run this long over Europe
we wouldn't be here,” because it was that long
And by this time Tom was flying the airplane
“He was sitting there chewing on his cigar saying
because Tom didn't even smoke cigars back in those days
We're right on target,” and everything of that type
So we went in and suddenly you felt the plane surge
because 9,800 pounds had left all of a sudden
And immediately Paul switched off the autopilot and started to go into the turn
“Does that maneuver have a name?” And I said
but I always call it getting the hell away from the bomb,” and that sort of thing
So we kept going in that direction out there
and 43 seconds until the bomb actually reached its altitude
1,002.” And I think we had concluded that it was a dud
And suddenly there was a bright flash in the airplane from the bomb exploding
So we kept going away from it and that sort of thing
And later I found it was measured at about two and a half to three Gs
That doesn't seem like a bunch to a fighter pilot
And the sound was worse than in the shockwave
because it sounded like a piece of sheet metal snapping
if you have a piece of sheet metal or something of that type
Somebody on the airplane called out “Flak.” I don't know who it was
and here comes another one.” And then the second one
So after we were certain we weren't going to get more shock waves
The first thing you saw was a large white cloud up over the target
And this large white cloud was up well above our altitude already
I'd estimate it was up to maybe 45,000 already
the entire city was covered with thick black smoke
And it was obvious we're not going to be able to make any visual observation down there
We flew a little bit in the southeast quadrant of the city
It was quite evident we were not going to be able to make any visual observation
had gone to a factory in the city that morning
but the scene in Hiroshima would soon be transformed
Nobody knew something like this was going to happen
But that day was especially interesting to me
this was a wooden structure that looked like it was converted to a factory with mechanical lathe and all sorts of metal pieces that needed to be
Cut to pieces and the makings of whatever military equipment that was used for
And I never knew exactly what was being made at that time
But it was kind of interesting going to the factory
except I noticed that there was an air raid that came on
they thought that it wasn't anything important to continue on with this air raid siren
out of the shelters and moved along for wherever they were going
I went inside to exchange the shoes and the rice or wheat or whatever I had for an exchange
all these students that were supposed to be there were outside looking at this parachute that was coming down from the sky here
but it got very black and dust and so forth
and it was just like the Earth was breaking up and everybody was just maybe going to hell
It was just absolutely hard to experience something like this
I noticed that I was somehow having blood all over my clothes and so forth
but I couldn't even hardly remember exactly what took place in those..
But first thing that everybody was thinking was
I saw all my student friends that mostly were outside looking at this parachute and so forth
and they had soot and everything else around them
And it looked almost like the whole Earth was just crumbling
everybody wanted to know what was going on
And the first thing they thought about was
maybe there's someone that we could get together and see what's happening.” But it was so chaotic that everybody thought they could have a little get together
“The only way that they're going to feel safe is to just get away from this place and head for home,” because there was nothing else to do
“The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor
and the end is not yet.” An initial postwar report by the US Army Corps of Engineers estimated that approximately 66,000 people in Hiroshima died in the initial blast
An August 1945 Gallup Poll found an overwhelming 85% of American adults supported the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
But this support would wane over the years
And I'm not talking even in the event of invasion; I don't know how many people would've been killed or wounded if we've had to invade Japan
But I saw the hospitals they were building in the Marianas there
And if we'd ever filled all those hospitals
This series is made possible by the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation
which supports content like this from The National WorldWII Museum in New Orleans
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Hiroshima marked the 79th anniversary on Tuesday of its atomic bombing by the United States
with its mayor urging people to unite in prompting world leaders to shift away from nuclear deterrence amid global conflicts including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East
read during the annual ceremony in the Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said such global tragedies seem to be "deepening distrust and fear among nations
"Policymakers can overcome even critical situations through resolute commitment to dialogue," the mayor said
noting that the Cold War was brought to an end through dialogue between Mikhail Gorbachev
"To extinguish the suspicion and doubt that creates conflicts
civil society must foster a circle of trust through exchange and dialogue with consideration for others," Matsui said
who represents a constituency in Hiroshima
cautioned in his speech at the ceremony that the momentum toward a world without nuclear weapons is on the verge of reversal for the first time since the height of the Cold War
"It is our duty as the sole country to have experienced the use of nuclear weapons in war to steadily work toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons," he said
A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m.
the exact time that the nuclear bomb was dropped by the U.S
bomber Enola Gay and detonated over the city on Aug
killing an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the year
The ceremony was attended by around 50,000 people
including representatives from 109 nations and the European Union
at a time when nuclear threats have been repeatedly made by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine
while Israel's war with Hamas risks spilling into a wider conflict
The Hiroshima city government invited Israel
alongside a call for an immediate cease-fire to the conflict in the Palestinian territory
which has drawn increasing international opposition
But the invitation has been criticized as a double standard by some
as Russia and Belarus have been barred from the ceremony for three consecutive years over the invasion of Ukraine
The Palestinian embassy also criticized Hiroshima for not inviting Palestine to the ceremony
undersecretary general and high representative for disarmament affairs
Secretary General Antonio Guterres in which he noted
global mistrust and division have only deepened..
some are recklessly rattling the nuclear saber once more."
"The world must stand together to condemn this unacceptable behavior
And we must find new solutions to bring disarmament to life," the statement said
the Group of Seven leaders held a summit in the city
making an unprecedented joint visit to the park and its museum and releasing their first-ever joint document on nuclear disarmament called the Hiroshima Vision
But just days before the latest atomic bombing anniversary
Japan and the United States held their first ministerial meeting on extended deterrence
drawing criticism from hibakusha that the move goes against nuclear abolition
During a press conference following the ceremony
saying extended deterrence is "an extremely important means to protect the lives of the people," and that nurturing trust with the United States would help them work together toward a world without nuclear weapons
He also expressed plans to hold a meeting in the autumn with friendly nations as a first step toward negotiating a proposed fissile material cut-off treaty
which would prohibit the further production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons
While hibakusha groups earlier urged Kishida to join a meeting of states party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons next year as an observer
Kishida only responded he would work toward a world without nuclear weapons
is not a party to the nuclear ban treaty and instead continues to back the nonproliferation treaty
A stream of visitors came to the park in the early morning to offer prayers and flowers
and to avoid tighter security restrictions implemented after violence broke out with demonstrators the previous year
The city limited entry into the premises between 5 a.m
One survivor Yoshie Yokoyama came in a wheelchair to the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims
The atomic bomb struck around eight kilometers from a factory she was working in
which led to the deaths of both of her parents as well as numerous classmates
and it was terrifying as I was also a child," the 95-year-old said
"Something this disastrous is not normal."
who grew up in the city listening to the accounts of survivors
came to the park with her husband and 5-year-old daughter to pay respect
"The awfulness of the bomb was not completely known (before its use)
and neither was how long the painful effects would last
I believe understanding what happened back then may change one's actions," she said
nicknamed "Little Boy," decimated Hiroshima
a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki
Japan surrendered to the Allied forces six days later
The combined number of officially recognized survivors of the two nuclear attacks stood at 106,825 as of March this year
Hiroshima survivor who broke silence at 70 seeks "blue sky" of peace
Statue of Hiroshima A-bomb victim Sadako Sasaki stolen from park in Seattle
Israel to attend Hiroshima peace ceremony amid call for cease-fire
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PrintPrint in large letters
the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony to console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing
as well as pray for the realization of lasting world peace
including those who lost family members in the bombing
is held in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims (Monument for Hiroshima
which is delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima during the ceremony
is sent to every country in the world to convey Hiroshima's will for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace
and for one minute, those at the ceremony grounds
and in workplaces pay silent tribute to the victims of the atomic bombing and pray for the realization of lasting world peace
August 6 from 8:00 am to 8:50 am every year
a ceremonial offering of water to the victims is held before the Peace Memorial Ceremony
Parking is not available; please use public transportation
6 bound for Eba and get off at the stop in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome-mae)
21 bound for Ujina and Hiroshima Port and get off at the Fukuro-machi stop
It is a five minute walk from there to the Peace Memorial Park
Please use caution as traffic will be regulated on August 6 in the area around Peace Memorial Park
Location of the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Peace Memorial Park
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National Report
HIROSHIMA--The city government here is changing how it goes about getting foreign dignitaries to attend its annual peace memorial ceremony to mark the Aug
notifications will be mailed to all nations and regions with an embassy or representative office in Japan
It means that Russia and Belarus will be notified that they are welcome to attend this year’s ceremony
Both nations were dropped from the list of invites after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022
The change in notification also means that Palestine would also be able to send a representative to this year’s ceremony for the first time
“Because discussions had arisen about double standards
we will change the manner of requesting (participation at the ceremony),” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said at an April 11 news conference
we are thinking about returning to the starting point of the ceremony.”
the Hiroshima city government invited Israel to attend
prompting local organizations of A-bomb hibakusha survivors to scream “double standards,” citing Israel’s devastating offensive in Gaza
the Nagasaki city government did not invite Israel
leading the United States and other Group of Seven nations to shun the ceremony
One aim of the change is to distance the event from global politics and remind nations around the world about the horrors of atomic warfare
the Hiroshima city government initially considered inviting Russia
but the Foreign Ministry objected on grounds it would send a mixed signal over where the government stood
Russia was not invited by Hiroshima from 2022 until last year
After the criticism about double standards regarding Israel
the Hiroshima city government last summer began to consider a better way to draw up a list of invitees
Notifications will be sent this year to 195 nations and regions--practically the entire world--according to a high-ranking city government official
Sources said the notifications to be mailed out from late May will ask foreign governments to participate by keeping in mind that “Hiroshima’s soul” is seeking world peace
so no other nation or people need ever face what the hibakusha did
The city government will consult with the Foreign Ministry before mailing out the notifications
But an official with the ministry’s Arms Control and Disarmament Division said
“While the final decision will be left up to the Hiroshima city government
we will state our view if we are asked to do so by the city government.”
The city government initially did not invite any of the nuclear powers but changed its policy after India and Pakistan carried out nuclear tests
The nuclear powers have been on the invite list since 1998
“We felt it was important that the nuclear powers
came to Hiroshima to see for themselves the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons,” said Takashi Hiraoka
(This article was written by Akari Uozumi and Yoshichika Yamanaka.)
Hiroshima faces ‘double standard’ criticism over A-bomb event
Nagasaki mayor denies political motive behind snub to Israel
ambassadors to skip Nagasaki peace ceremony
Nagasaki mayor suspends invite to Israel for peace ceremony
EDITORIAL: Ethical ‘double standards’ come to fore in Aug
Nagasaki won’t invite Israel to attend Aug
Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions
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A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors
chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
In-house News and Messages
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A group of activists gathered in Hiroshima on Tuesday to denounce Israel being invited to the annual peace ceremony in the city commemorating the 79th anniversary of its atomic bombing by the United States and called for the freedom of Gaza in the Palestinian territory
the venue of the ceremony earlier in the day
was joined by crowds of people and remotely by Waleed Siam
representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan
disappointment and frustration that the city of Hiroshima
has chosen to be hijacked by the oppressors and supporters
while excluding the victims," Siam said at the Citizens' Alternative Peace Memorial Ceremony for Palestine
"The invitation perpetuated our suffering in the absence of our voices
undermining the very principle of justice that Hiroshima stands for," he said
a 61-year-old member of Hiroshima Palestine Vigil Community hosting the event
said they have been demonstrating by the Atomic Bomb Dome every day since Oct
"Hiroshima is known for advocating for lasting world peace and nuclear nonproliferation
and its citizens have sought that ideal," she said
"I believe that the invitation was a betrayal of that struggle."
Among the roughly 100 participants of the event
"Inviting Israel to Hiroshima was disgraceful
It's as if we're accepting what's happening in Gaza."
The event came after Israel attended the morning ceremony following an invitation from the Hiroshima city government
The western Japan city said it did not invite Palestine on the grounds it is not a state recognized by the Japanese government or a member of the United Nations
But the decision drew backlash as a double standard
with many pointing out Russia and Belarus had not received an invitation for a third straight year amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine
Hiroshima officials later said they plan to review the invitation rules for next year
which will hold its own ceremony on Friday marking the 1945 atomic bombing of the city
did not invite Israel but invited Palestine to its annual event
Ambassador of Israel to Japan Gilad Cohen called the decision "regrettable" and "sends a wrong message to the world" in a post on X
British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom said in Hiroshima she has decided not to attend the Nagasaki ceremony
as not inviting Israel could be seen as treating it as equivalent to Russia and Belarus
when Israel is exercising its right to self-defense
Israel began military operations in the Gaza Strip following a surprise attack on Israel on Oct
But concerns have grown internationally over the deaths and injuries of many civilians and the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave
Hiroshima urges shift from nuclear deterrence on 79th A-bomb anniv.
Nagasaki mayor says Israel not invited to A-bomb peace ceremony
Virtual reality tours show Hiroshima A-bomb reality as survivors age
Leaders of the major world religions are gathered in the Japanese city of Hiroshima this week to reaffirm their commitment to making sure that artificial intelligence (AI) is developed ethically and responsibly for peace
Titled “AI Ethics for Peace: World Religions commit to the Rome Call”
the two-day forum is co-organized by the Pontifical Academy of Life (PAV)
the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace
and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s Commission for Interfaith Relations
The highlight of the multi-faith event, which kicked off on Tuesday, will be the signing of the “Rome Call for AI Ethics”, issued in 2020 by the Pontifical Academy for Life and furthered by the RenAIssance Foundation
emphasizing the vital importance of guiding the development of artificial intelligence with ethical principles to ensure it serves the good of humanity
the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Italian Government
aims to foster an ethical approach to artificial intelligence and to promote a sense of responsibility among organizations
in order to shape a future in which digital innovation and technological progress serve human genius and creativity while safeguarding the human dignity of every individual and the planet
Following the signing of the “Rome Call” by leaders of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity
in the name of peaceful coexistence and shared values
the event aims to reinforce the idea that a multi-religious approach to vital questions such as AI ethics is the path to follow
organizers remark that the choice of the venue holds a particular significance
as Hiroshima stands as a powerful testament to the consequences of destructive technology and the enduring quest for peace
In his opening remarks at the session, on Tuesday morning, the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, reiterated the crucial role religions are called to play to ensure that the development of artificial intelligence
“a great tool with unlimited possibilities of application” he said
proceeds hand in hand with protecting the dignity of every human being and preserving our common home
and in this shared effort we can rediscover real fraternity,” he remarked
and we ask that technology be a driver of peace and reconciliation among peoples
to say loudly that standing together and acting together is the only possible solution.”
Bishop Paglia’s words were echoed by those of the leaders of the other organizing partners
and joint work are necessary to deal with the developments of Artificial Intelligence,” said Sheikh Abdallah Bin Bayyah
President of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace
we can pave the way for a future in which AI is a force for good – a future in which the fruits of technology are harnessed to build a more tolerant
peaceful and virtuous world," he said
Chairperson of Religions for Peace Japan reiterated his organization’s commitment to ensure that AI promotes “inclusivity and mutual respect for everyone."
Member of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s Commission for Interfaith Relations
religious leaders “carry a unique responsibility to infuse our pursuit of AI with moral clarity and ethical integrity.”
He further highlighted the need to utilize AI “not merely as a tool for progress
but as a conduit for deepening our connection to the divine and fortifying our spiritual journey
providing avenues for exploring the intricacies of creation and the mysteries of existence," he said
Other speakers on Tuesday included Father Paolo Benanti
Professor of Ethics of Technology at the Pontifical Gregorian University
who presented the Hiroshima Addendum on Generative AI
The document focuses on the need for ethical governance of generative AI - an ongoing process that requires a sustained commitment from all stakeholders so that its potential is used for the good of humanity
Also speaking on Tuesday were high representatives of IT companies such as Microsoft
The gathering will conclude on July 10 with the signing of the “Rome Appeal After the testimony of an atomic bomb survivor
participants also planned to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
as well as the Cenotaph of the atomic bomb victims where they will lay flowers in their memory
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A Japanese group representing atomic bomb survivors
have appealed for a world without nuclear weapons at a UN nuclear disarmament meeting in New York
The speeches were delivered at Wednesday's meeting of the preparatory committee for next year's review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Kanamoto Hiroshi is an executive board member of Nihon Hidankyo
which won last year's Nobel Peace Prize
He said they have high expectations for the forthcoming NPT review conference at a time when the decline of the "nuclear taboo," which holds that nuclear weapons must not be used
Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi spoke on behalf of Mayors for Peace
a group of municipal leaders seeking the abolishment of nuclear weapons
He called on global representatives to heed civil society's call for peace and refrain from relying on nuclear deterrence
He also urged world leaders to advance reliable nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures in good faith
Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki Shiro expressed sympathy over the passing of Pope Francis
who visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2019
Suzuki said the only way for humanity to escape the nuclear risk is through abolition
"Nagasaki must remain the last wartime atomic bombing site."
This deeply moving documentary gives a voice to the ‘hibakusha’ who endured the horrific US bombings – and are running out of time to tell their stories
Atomic People marries interviews with a handful of them – all octogenarians at least
a few who have marked their centenaries – with contemporary footage of President Harry Truman lauding the Manhattan Project’s achievement and the burnt and blistered bodies in the streets of the Japanese cities to create a deeply moving
by the occupying allied forces who moved in after Japan surrendered in the face of this new weapon and banned reporting on the bombs’ effects
families and wider culture as survival became stigmatised
The hibakusha’s blood was thought to be tainted
as exposure to radiation took its toll on survivors and on many of their subsequent children
who were born disfigured or were miscarried before they could be born at all
No one wanted them to marry into their families
View image in fullscreenHideo Takemoto was three when the bombs dropped
Photograph: Hideo Takemoto/BBC/Minnow FilmsWhat is most immediately striking about the witness accounts is that fictionalised versions in films
television series and books have done nothing but record the truth
There was nowhere worse for the imagination to go than the reality
remembers a young woman swaying as she walked towards the child and asked: “Where is the hospital?” while clutching her spilling organs
recalls students gathering at a school with what looked like long strands of seaweed hanging from their waists
Chieko’s teacher ordered her to help dig a pit to bury them
Another remembers people with their eyeballs dangling down their faces and a mother clutching a baby “burned black as stone” as the flesh melted off her own back
hanging from the straps of an incinerated tram
These stories are given the space they need
but the documentary does not forget the other parts of survivors’ lives
The interviewer asks her subjects to close their eyes and remember what it was like before the bombs dropped: “What do you see?” Most answer with their eyes still closed
Their memories of the silver shimmer of the B-29 against a clear blue sky evoke our own of 9/11
But the scale of the devastation shown by archive footage of the blasted cities remains unparalleled
Some of the hundreds of thousands who died left what look like shadows on the buildings that remained standing
Relationships and marriages were forged amid lies and half truths
One hibakusha couple decided eventually that the risks were too great to have children: “But sometimes I think if I hadn’t thought too much about it
I might have chosen to have children.” Another woman describes losing her adult son to leukemia
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To see the pain etched on the faces of those who were there is almost unbearable
But they are asking us not to look awayIt seems impossible that such an event could ever have been celebrated
but Truman’s address to the US after Hiroshima is unmistakably triumphal
“We have spent $2bn on the greatest scientific gamble in history – and won … If they do not now accept our terms
the like of which has never been seen on this Earth.”
Atomic People does not mark a major anniversary
It is simply that time is running out for the long-silent survivors to tell their stories
to have them heard and to let them function – insofar as is possible in this war-ravaged world – as a warning from history
It may also let the storytellers find some peace
“I want to forget the memories that are inside my body
The central blast zone in Hiroshima is now a memorial park
One survivor says the noise of the insects always sounds to her like the voices of the dying who begged her for help and water
I don’t know what you do with all this pain and terrible knowledge
To see it concentrated in the minds and etched on the faces of those who were there is almost unbearable
there will surely be more silver shimmers in bright blue skies
Atomic People aired on BBC Two and is available on BBC iPlayer
Today's print edition
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Raging conflicts around the world are “reinforcing the public assumption” that military force and nuclear deterrence are needed to solve global crises — a view Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui rejected Tuesday in a ceremonial speech marking 79 years since the city was devastated by an atomic bomb
Citing former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former U.S
President Ronald Reagan’s push to end the Cold War
Matsui stressed the importance of not being “resigned to pessimism” amid conflicts such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war
adding that the world must take collective action and show that dialogue can overcome conflict.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
“Our unity will move leaders now relying on nuclear deterrence to shift their policies,” he said
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by JACKSON WALKER | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — The United States has expedited the production of a powerful new nuclear warhead due to “urgent need,” according to a release from defense contractor Sandia National Laboratories (SNL).
SNL wrote it used “innovative program planning” to accelerate the production of its B61-13 bomb seven months ahead of schedule
That decision came in response to “a critical challenge and urgent need,” it wrote
according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
That figure makes the bomb 24 times stronger than the “Little Boy” bomb used by the U.S
“The B61-13 will strengthen deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets,” the Department of Defense wrote in 2023
“Deterrence and assurance are enhanced if the United States can continue to deny an adversary sanctuary from attack.”
The Pentagon in 2023 also acknowledged production of the bomb “is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries.”
"The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and
and assure our allies,” then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb wrote
Production of the bomb was first initiated under the Biden administration
FAS wrote in 2023 the Biden administration justified producing the bomb by arguing it would “replace all other nuclear gravity bombs.”
“The military justification for adding the B61-13 to the stockpile is hard to see,” FAS wrote
“Defense officials say that the decision is not related to current events or developments in China
Nor is the administration’s decision a product of the hard and deeply buried target capability study mentioned in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.”
Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.
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As many as 100,000 photos and online posts including a female Medal of Honor recipient
Black soldiers and people whose last name is ‘Gay’ may be axed in the diversity eradication ordered by Donald Trump
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References to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient
the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan
and the first women to pass Marine infantry training are among the tens of thousands of photos and online posts marked for deletion as the Defense Department works to purge DEI content
according to a shocking database obtained by The Associated Press
includes more than 26,000 images that have been flagged for removal across every military branch
But the eventual total could be much higher
who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public
said the purge could delete as many as 100,000 images or posts in total
when considering social media pages and other websites that are also being culled for diversity
The official said it's not clear if the database has been finalized
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to remove content that highlights diversity efforts in its ranks following President Donald Trump’s executive order ending those programs across the federal government
The vast majority of the Pentagon purge targets women and minorities
including notable milestones made in the military
And it also removes a large number of posts that mention various commemorative months — such as those for Black and Hispanic people and women
But a review of the database also underscores the massive confusion among agencies about how to conform with Trump's radical order
photos seemed to be flagged for removal simply because their file included the word ”gay,” including service members with that last name and an image of the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay
which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima
Several photos of an Army Corps of Engineers dredging project in California were marked for deletion
apparently because a local engineer in the photo had the last name Gay
A photo of Army Corps biologists was on the list
apparently because it mentioned they were recording data about fish — including their weight
the nation’s first Black military pilots who served in a segregated WWII unit
but those may likely be protected due to historical content
The Air Force briefly removed new recruit training courses that included videos of the Tuskegee Airmen soon after Trump’s order. That drew the White House’s ire over “malicious compliance,” and the Air Force quickly reversed the removal.
Many of the images listed in the database already have been removed. Others were still visible Thursday, and it’s not clear if they will be taken down at some point or be allowed to stay, including images with historical significance such as those of the Tuskegee Airmen.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the removed images will be protectively stored somewhere or simply trashed.
Asked about the database, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement: “We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct components accordingly.”
He noted that Hegseth has declared that “DEI is dead” and that efforts to put one group ahead of another through DEI programs erodes camaraderie and threatens mission execution.
The main page in a post titled “Women’s History Month: All-female crew supports warfighters” was removed. But at least one of the photos in that collection about an all-female C-17 crew could still be accessed.
A shot from the Army Corps of Engineers titled “Engineering pioneer remembered during Black History Month” was deleted.
Other photos flagged in the database but still visible Thursday included images of the World War II Women Air Service Pilots and one of U.S. Air Force Col. Jeannie Leavitt, the country’s first female fighter pilot.
Also still visible was an image of then-Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro becoming one of the first three women to graduate from the Marine Corps’ Infantry Training Battalion and an image of Marine Corps World War II Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Harold Gonsalves.
The database of the 26,000 images was created to conform with federal archival laws, so if the services are queried in the future, they can show how they are complying with the law, the U.S. official said. But it may be difficult to ensure the content was archived because the responsibility to ensure each image was preserved was the responsibility of each individual unit.
In many cases, workers are taking screenshots of the pages marked for removal, but it would be difficult to restore them if the decision was made to do so in the future, according to another official, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that were not public.
A Marine Corps official said every one of its images in the database “either has been taken down or will be taken down.”
The Marines are moving on the directive as fast as possible, but as with the rest of the military, very few civilian or contractor employees at the Pentagon can perform content removal, the official said.
In the Marine Corps, just one defense civilian is available to do the work. The Marine Corps estimates that person has identified at least 10,000 images for removal — and that does not count more than 1,600 social media sites that have not yet been examined.
The Marine official said the service is going through each site and getting new administrative privileges so it can make the changes.
On February 26, the Pentagon ordered all the military services to spend countless hours poring over years of website postings, photos, news articles and videos to remove any mentions that “promote diversity, equity and inclusion."
If they couldn't do that by Wednesday, they were told to “temporarily remove from public display” all content published during the Biden administration’s four years in office.
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Black soldiers and people whose last name is ‘Gay’ may be axed in the diversity eradication ordered by Donald Trump