Hiroshima marks atomic bombing's 78th anniversary after hosting G7 summit

Purely by coincidence, I have been listening to Dan Carlin's 'The Destroyer of Worlds' podcast this morning, which is well worth a listen for those so inclined. Tells a good yarn, does Dan.

Celebrate by inviting G7 nations that honest and develop nuclear weapons.

I think Hiroshima needs to get over it. It happened 78 years ago. It was a terrible think, but it is over.

100 year anniversary, I can understand, but all this continued “Look what happened to poor Hiroshima and poor Nagasaki “ needs to stop.

It is history. Enough!

Think=Thing

Every world leader should visit and appreciate the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It changed my life. Anyone not touched by it should be banned from public office.

Onjin.com

Why Hiroshima and not Kyoto ??? Just a honeymoon.

In todays volatile world. Its unlikely/unrealistic to ask all nuclear countries, there are so many of them, to give up their nuclear weapon. What is doable/realistic is, if Japan, and some countries are sincere/serious about the evil of nuclear weapon, is first, to sign on to, No First Use. If every country signed on to it, then, the result is, the world will never again see its evil/destruction. So, for anyone to talk, and be taken seriously, please first, sign on, and ask yours friends to do the same, other wise, its just for public consumptions/votes.

The darkest day in American history. The second bomb was definitely a war crime. As for the first, only our American leaders at the time can tell is if it was really necessary.

Least we forget.

OKuniyoshiToday 01:10 pm JST

In todays volatile world. Its unlikely/unrealistic to ask all nuclear countries, there are so many of them, to give up their nuclear weapon. What is doable/realistic is, if Japan, and some countries are sincere/serious about the evil of nuclear weapon, is first, to sign on to, No First Use. If every country signed on to it, then, the result is, the world will never again see its evil/destruction. So, for anyone to talk, and be taken seriously, please first, sign on, and ask yours friends to do the same, other wise, its just for public consumptions/votes.

The problem is that terrorists or terrorists backed by nuclear powers won't sign on to No First Use. If my country is attacked, I want the flexibility to go immediately after them with everything we have.

Bill LewisToday  11:37 am JST

Anyone not touched by it should be banned from public office.

how can you tell if someone's touched, or is just mouthing politically-convenient anodyne sentiments? and even if they are sincere, how would you measure the degree of touched-ess?

The war did not begin and end at the shocking loss of life from the horror of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki…..

Hiroshima marked the 78th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing by the United States on Sunday after its nuclear legacy took center stage when the western Japan city hosted the summit of the Group of Seven major economies in May.

And yet Japan education system in many respects refuses, however harrowing, to fully guide and inform the next generation as to the full histrionics that lead to such devastation.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui must at least acknowledge whilst, quite rightly calling for quote…

"Leaders around the world must confront the reality that nuclear threats now being voiced by certain policymakers reveal the folly of nuclear deterrence theory," Matsui said, adding, "They must immediately take concrete steps to lead us from the dangerous present toward our ideal world."

The political and route map that took Japan into war with United States should be included at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. Students visiting can take way, why such an appalling loss of life occurred….

 I would like to offer, if JT will allow two links that give astonishing insight accompanied with unclassified documents and evidence.   

Third Atomic Bomb Attack - Japan 1945

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I34pxr23Nhw

Atomic Bombing, why Hiroshima?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23KO9T6BJYI

Elvis is hereToday  01:21 pm JST

…only our American leaders at the time can tell is if it was really necessary

Five out the six 5-star US officers at the time said it was unnecessary, because Japan was already beaten and they were against targeting civilians. None of them believed an invasion would be necessary. Japan didn’t have the navy, aircraft, fuel or ammunition. They wanted to just wait offshore.

They knew Japan had sued for peace through Russia. Truman wanted the word unconditional, say “uncle.” The exact terms offered were the final terms of surrender. The question was maintaining the emperor. They knew the emperor would be needed for an occupation to be successful.

They also knew Japan would capitulate when Russia entered the war, and is exactly what happened. Truman was not about to risk the political fallout from not using something that cost so much money to produce.

Ironically, he vetoed the use of using any more being produced after seeing the reports of the results. There were people in congress calling for accepting no surrender and to use every device made until not a single Japanese person remained alive.

Truman said he didn’t have the stomach to kill women and children that way.

Don't forget the "Honorable Mention" about Pearl Harbor while you're at it, and why it all happened.

Peter NeilToday 01:56 pm JST

They also knew Japan would capitulate when Russia entered the war, and is exactly what happened. Truman was not about to risk the political fallout from not using something that cost so much money to produce.

Or of allowing Stalin to grab more territory I'm sure.

Don't forget the "Honorable Mention" about Pearl Harbor while you're at it, and why it all happened.

irrelevant as the separate events are incomparable. Also, two wrongs don't make a right. America had won. They wanted to test their new toys and spook Russia. Disgusting two target a civilian population. Twice.

Dial 0120-WAAH

but also urged policymakers to abandon the idea that nuclear weapons deter war

Why should that idea be abandoned? They DO deter war. That's a demonstrable and undeniable fact.

In the 20th century, before nuclear weapons, there were two world wars that claimed the lives of nearly 80 million people.

There have been no such mass-scale wars since then.

When we remove the emotions and the mandatory-opinion mindset that overemotionalism so often breeds, we are left with one absolutely undeniable conclusion:

Nuclear weapons -- provided they are never actually used, of course -- help make the world safer.

Must be a open and honest debate for and by the next generation, so the J youth can decide and understand what drives humanity to such destruction.

The reasoning to why the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima exists.

Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima should be a lesson from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima/Nagasaki.

Also to a J constitution, the only one of its kind, totally devoted to peace.

No time like the present, long overdue, I would also suggest that J Students be afforded free access to Nolan's Oppenheimer, if they chose to view, with follow up school classroom discussions and tutorials.

Elvis=irrelevant as the separate events are incomparable. Also, two wrongs don't make a right. America had won. They wanted to test their new toys and spook Russia. Disgusting two target a civilian population. Twice.

Every time this unfortunate discussion comes up, you are left speechless again and again with no knowledge of history and zero appreciation for the context. You also have zero rebuttal to the historical fact that after the second bomb was dropped the war council was deadlocked over surrender, and when the Emperor personally intervened to break the dead lock, there was a full blown palace coup to assassinate “pro American ministers” and destroy the surrender message.

So no, this never ending fiction that Japan was ready to call it day and was just asking “Hey guys…do you want us to sign the unconditional surrender in black or red ink?” fiction that permeates boards like this from the historically disinclined needs to be put to rest. It wasn’t true in 1945 and it’s not true now.

Life is short and sweet. Peace is precious for humankind and Planet Earth. G7 leaders, their loved ones, world leaders and their followers are tirelessly working to create peace and goodwill on Earth.

America had won

Too bad no one told that to the 800,000 Japanese soldiers and million or so civilian defense corps who were digging in in Kyushu in July 1945, preparing to repel the invaders in what would have surely been the bloodiest and most suicidal battle of all.

Or the two million other Japanese soldiers elsewhere in Japan waiting for their deployment orders. Millions of Japanese were fully ready and waiting to fight that summer....until Hirohito unilaterally called on them to surrender directly after hearing news of Nagasaki.

Disgusting two target a civilian population.

The US air force routinely dropped hundreds of thousands of leaflets warning civilians and exhorting them to flee their cities in advance of bombing runs. The US targeted cities and their industrial and military facilities, not civilians. Japan would have never surrendered if its cities were left intact.

Your reasoning is over simplified high school stuff . But If that's what you need to believe to help you sleep, then so be it.

Don't forget the "Honorable Mention" about Pearl Harbor while you're at it, and why it all happened.

Shh. They won't be able to play the victim card if they do that!

And like it or not..

The biggest WAR CRIME in world's history..

Every time this unfortunate discussion comes up, you are left speechless again and again with no knowledge of history and zero appreciation for the context. You also have zero rebuttal to the historical fact that after the second bomb was dropped the war council was deadlocked over surrender, and when the Emperor personally intervened to break the dead lock, there was a full blown palace coup to assassinate “pro American ministers” and destroy the surrender message.

Well said.

The “about to surrender” narratives come from the Allies and their perspective. These are the same people who saw no point to “banzai” attacks.

Japan has no regrets it started the war. Only that it lost the war. Thank god it did not have nuclear arms, it would dropped all they had on the USA.

To suggest that the hundreds of thousands innocent civilian lives lost in the atomic weapons dropped on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, whole families, incinerated, tens of thousands to suffer the affects of radiation poisoning into later life, can be justified as revenge is frankly shameful.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  04:48 pm JST

To suggest that the hundreds of thousands innocent civilian lives lost in the atomic weapons dropped on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, whole families, incinerated, tens of thousands to suffer the affects of radiation poisoning into later life, can be justified as revenge is frankly shameful.

The number of people killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki pale in comparison to those killed by Japan throughout Asia. We're talking around 200,000 - 250,000 vs 8,000,000 - 10,000,000. How much regret, compassion, and sympathy is shown to those millions killed by Japan in Japan. Today? Instead they deny. lie, and whitewash yet demand the same about the atomic bombs. Japanese are told by Japanese to forget what they did because it was the past; it happened so long ago. How can they then keep bringing up Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

MilesTeg

Comparisons pale into insignificance when faced with the prospect of such devastation on a global scale.

Japan is a peace loving nation, with a constitution to prove it.

The Government of China has learnt nothing zero from the Imperial Japanese Army surrender.

It is imperative the lessons from the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki be fully realized and yes I fully support Japan Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui underlining message.

it is a heartfelt message of peace and a genuine belief to the cause of nuclear disarmament.

Your point of whether or not Japanese to forget what they did because it was the past; it happened so long ago, is why I suggested that the J education system could review how the next generation is taught Japan imperial expansion that led to the second world war.

This can and should be achieved by educators not politicians or the belief that present day Japan must constantly bend double in countless statements of apology and remorse.

Yamaneko, yes Japan was forced to surrender unconditionally, and were subsequently occupied, some would contend to this day.

My next door neighbor a farmer would agree but doesn't complain. He states times have changed.

I am not sure if the Government of China take away from Japan capitulation will ultimately be a pandora's box that will finally engulf its foolish intent to have ascendancy over every aspect of the democratic will of the region

itsonlyrocknrollToday  05:50 pm JST

MilesTeg

Comparisons pale into insignificance when faced with the prospect of such devastation on a global scale.

Japan is a peace loving nation, with a constitution to prove it.

The Government of China has learnt nothing zero from the Imperial Japanese Army surrender.

It is imperative the lessons from the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki be fully realized and yes I fully support Japan Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui underlining message.

it is a heartfelt message of peace and a genuine belief to the cause of nuclear disarmament.

Your point of whether or not Japanese to forget what they did because it was the past; it happened so long ago, is why I suggested that the J education system could review how the next generation is taught Japan imperial expansion that led to the second world war.

This can and should be achieved by educators not politicians or the belief that present day Japan must constantly bend double in countless statements of apology and remorse.

We agree more than we disagree.

The bombs were horrible and caused a lot of death and suffering but keep in mind that civilians were told to leave the cities by the US and Japan was asked to surrender. The Japanese gov't and military refused to provide food, water, and rations to those leaving and downplayed the bomb. Thus many stayed. I doubt that Japan would've acted the same if the situation was reversed.

The Memorials in Hiroshima and Nagasaki don't say a thing about the millions killed by Japan nor do they mention that it was a war of aggression started by Japan. Take a look at the Japanese posters on this site. How many have expressed contrition for what Japan did. What does the gov't and people do to commemorate the end of WWII every year. They pay their respects to the Japanese war dead. That's all. Not a word or sentiment for those that they caused suffering.

If Japan expects more sympathy and remorse, it should be more from their side. Instead they want everyone to forget what they did yet focus the bombs. And yes it starts with education but it's just not happening.

This footnoted event of WWII should be highlighted for its saving the lives of over 100,000 allied military prisoners in Japanese war camps who were being starved to death and murdered at a rate of about 15,000 a month, which is a war crime.

The US president should be commended for his bravery, which saved millions of Japanese' lives.

It would have made sense if Kishida's speech focused on Japan's pledge to not wage war on its neighbors ever again.

Every world leader should visit and appreciate the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It changed my life. Anyone not touched by it should be banned from public office.

So everybody democratically elected person in public office throughout the world should travel to Hiroshima, and be touched. Maybe they should also visit the Unit 731 Memorial Museum in Hubei, China and be touched. A stop had to be put to such evil, and the atomic bomb did just that. After all, Japan at that time knew all about collateral damage.

i never understand there is nothing about all the people that died in the Tokyo area in WWII Far more that in those two cities combined, Wasn't the whole war a tragedy, but nothing also about Nanking Japanese government.

TaiwanIsNotChinaAug. 6  02:03 pm JST

Peter NeilToday 01:56 pm JST

They also knew Japan would capitulate when Russia entered the war, and is exactly what happened. Truman was not about to risk the political fallout from not using something that cost so much money to produce.

“Or of allowing Stalin to grab more territory I'm sure”

I agree.

Peter NeilToday 01:33 am JST

TaiwanIsNotChinaAug. 6  02:03 pm JST

Peter NeilToday 01:56 pm JST

They also knew Japan would capitulate when Russia entered the war, and is exactly what happened. Truman was not about to risk the political fallout from not using something that cost so much money to produce.

“Or of allowing Stalin to grab more territory I'm sure”

I agree.

So then you know exactly why the US still believes the bombings were a good thing. There is no big brother for the US to appeal to in its conflict with Russia and China. Everything done or not done matters.

Japan didn’t wake up one morning and say, “Hey, let’s bomb Pearl Harbor.”

When Japan came out of isolation, emissaries were sent around the world to study and understand how to thrive in the world. They opted for a system like England, an island nation with a parliamentary system, a monarchy and a massive empire with the most powerful navy at the time. Japan was an ally during WWI, then treated as a third class entity. Its navy was limited similar to the WWI losers.

Japan introduced a proclamation to the League of Nations against racial discrimination and the vote was overwhelming to pass it, except for the US, England, France and a few other European nations. Woodrow Wilson, who had no authority in the League of Nations, “vetoed” it.

Japan looked around and saw they were surrounded by European and US colonies. The French, Dutch, England, Spain, US and Portugal had colonized most of Asia, plus Russia and Japan had already fought a naval war. World power came in the package of colonizing others. The writing was on the wall. Japan felt they could either do the same or be colonized.

When the US cut off oil to Japan, that was the last straw. The US had colonized Hawaii, Midway, The Philippines and together with England were running China as a de facto colony. I think the question was and is today, would the US, England or any European nation fight or be colonized?

Right or wrong, that was and is a non-US, European perspective.

Peter NeilToday 02:02 am JST

When the US cut off oil to Japan, that was the last straw.

The US didn't just wake up and decide to sanction Japan. It was because of the horrendous war of Japan against China.

The US had colonized Hawaii, Midway, The Philippines and together with England were running China as a de facto colony. I think the question was and is today, would the US, England or any European nation fight or be colonized?

Right or wrong, that was and is a non-US, European perspective.

You're right that this was the Japanese perspective and it was completely wrong and misguided.

When the US cut off oil to Japan, that was the last straw.

The oil was to fuel Japan's war machine, which killed 10s of millions of innocent people. Under what obligation was the US complicit in that arrangement? And who says that countries are not allowed to choose their trading partners?

Japan looked around and saw they were surrounded by European and US colonies. 

Japan wasn't "surrounded" by anyone. Japan's geographic position is one of most isolated of any major power, and it was never a target of colonialism by anyone. It's ww2 adventure was purely about domination and subjugation of weaker states by a race of people who saw themselves as superior.

They also knew Japan would capitulate when Russia entered the war,

Except Japan didn't capitulate upon Russia's entry. The Soviet invasion of Manchuria continued until Aug. 20, featuring fierce, fanatical, banzai style resistance from the nearly 1 million Japanese troops. Truman's diary states the a-bombs would probably force a quick surrender and if they didn't, then Russia's entry could seal the deal. The revisionists love to misinterpret this rational and straightforward belief. Hirohito said after the war that the US aerial bombings were his primary consideration in calling for unconditional surrender.

"Facts: the enemy of revisionism"

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” And Winston Churchill was right. Japan today is still removing most comments in support of dropping the bomb. Japan started the war after many warnings by the League of Nations. Economic embargo implemented ( not dissimilar to Russia today).and after attacking the USA. While Japan times maybe becoming more controlling, almost like China, I still believe the a bomb while abhorrent saved many more lives. Especially our our allies. We also might consider that Japan was part of an axis of evil, with Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo. All evil dictators.

Today's Russian Government Announcement: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 6th, coinciding with the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, accusing the United States of "for the first time in human history, a nuclear weapon was used in combat, and a merciless test on civilians was carried out." bottom.

In addition, he presented a historical view that even without the dropping of atomic bombs, "the former Japanese army was already exhausted by early August 1945, and the Soviet Union's entry into the war (against Japan) played a decisive role in its defeat." bottom.

The statement also stated that "the (US) dropping of the atomic bomb was a barbaric display of force, and was nothing more than an attempt to justify the huge contribution to the Manhattan Project."

A poll shows that the majority of American youth think the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was right because it helped quickly end the war. Probably, they may be right, because the Japanese at the time were determined to fight the war to the last man.

However, was it really the dropping of atomic bombs that did the trick? Hadn't the imperial Japanese government trying to negotiate a truce with Washington, only to be replied with impossible and unacceptable preconditions?   

Note that there were many nuclear scientists recruited for the Manhattan project who opposed to the use of atomic bombs against a dying Japan, resigned from the project and left Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The Soviet Union entered the war on Sept. 8, 1945, the day when another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and occupied Manchuria, Southern Sakhalin and the Kurils, carrying everything before them. This occurred despite the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact (non-aggression treaty).

Imperial Japan's power that be must have realized then that Japan could no longer continue fighting the war and decided to accept the Potsdam Declaration, thus surrendering to the Allies unconditionally.

I remember the day when the Emperor announced the surrender over the radio and the people who had gathered to hear the announcement were drooping their head low in sorrow, some sobbing.

Correction:

The Soviet Union entered the war on August. 8, 1945.