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Hiroshima Day – August 6, 2024

In memory of the fateful day and of those who lost their lives, Hiroshima Day is observed yearly on August 6. The observance serves as a reminder of the day when a nuclear weapon was used during an armed conflict between the United States and Japan, and the lives that were lost when an entire city was razed to the ground. Little did they know that the effects of the atomic bomb that was dropped by the U.S. on the city of Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 would be felt by the next generations of Japanese as well. There was a large-scale loss of infrastructure, and a large number of people continued to die years after the incident.

History of Hiroshima Day

The bomb was dropped over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final year of World War II by the United States. The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and after three days, the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people and destroyed the infrastructure of both cities. The Allied leaders had demanded the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces. While the Japanese were presented with an ultimatum upon not abiding by the demands, there was no mention of atomic bombardment. The Japanese government rejected the demand.

On August 6, 1945, a modified B-29 dropped a uranium gun-type bomb, named ‘Little Boy,’ on Hiroshima. Three days later another B-29 dropped a plutonium implosion bomb, named ‘Fat Man,’ on Nagasaki. Reports say that approximately 70,000 to 80,000 people were killed immediately by the blast and resultant firestorm, and a similar number of people were injured in Hiroshima. Months after the bombing, more lives were lost due to the effects of bombings in both cities.

Along with the lives lost and people injured, there was massive structural damage too. The Japanese officials stated that around 70 percent of the buildings in Hiroshima were destroyed. Left with no choice, Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15. The instrument of surrender was signed on September 2 in Tokyo Bay. This signaled the end of World War II. However, the residents of Hiroshima continued to suffer health problems years after due to long-term radiation exposure.

Hiroshima Day timeline

The Second World War breaks out.

Germany takes Paris and France capitulates 11 days later.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, starting a war with the U.S.

The Nazis surrender themselves to the Allied Forces.

Hiroshima Day FAQ s

Why do we celebrate hiroshima day.

This day is a reminder of the bombing attack on Hiroshima by the United States during World War II. Hiroshima Day is to promote peace politics against the war. 

What is Nagasaki Day?

On August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped the second nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, three days after Hiroshima was destroyed by the first one. 

Why did the U.S. bomb Japan twice?

America probably deployed the plutonium bomb on Nagasaki to make clear the strength of its nuclear arsenal to ensure the nation’s supremacy in the global power hierarchy.

How To Observe Hiroshima Day

Partake in a rally.

Anti-war and anti-nuclear weapon rallies are often organized on Hiroshima Day. You can attend one in your city to learn more about the disastrous effects of war.

Attend a memorial

Your local Japanese community might be organizing a memorial on Hiroshima Day. You can attend a memorial to pay respects to the victims and their families.

Read about the event

If you are not well versed with the history of World War II and the Hiroshima bombings, you could read books, archives, and newspaper reports on the same.

5 Fascinating Facts About Japan

The japanese love their pets.

There are more pets in Japan than there are people.

It’s good manners to slurp your noodles

The louder the slurping of your noodles, the tastier it is considered to be.

The number four is considered unlucky

The number four (‘shi’) is thought unlucky since it sounds too similar to the Japanese word for death.

Japanese trains are very punctual

The average delay of Japanese trains is 18 seconds.

It has the world’s largest seafood market

The world’s largest seafood market is the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo.

Why We Observe Hiroshima Day

It’s a part of our history.

Hiroshima Day is remembered as one of the deadliest days in recent history. The loss of life and infrastructure of this day is an important part of world history.

It teaches us to be anti-war

Wars don’t just drain a country of its wealth and resources, they also snatch human life and destabilize the country. Hiroshima Day is a good day to remember the disastrous effects of wars and urge our governments to take an anti-war stance.

It hopes for a peaceful future

Despite the immense loss to life and property, Hiroshima Day is observed with the hope that such an incident will not be repeated ever again. The day encourages us to work towards an inclusive and peaceful future.

Hiroshima Day dates

Hiroshima Day related holidays

Constitution Memorial Day

National Heroes' Day

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Hiroshima Day - [August 6,1945] Cause & Effect On Hiroshima

What is hiroshima day.

Hiroshima Day is observed on 6th August every year.

The United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 th August 1945 during the course of the Second World War leading to the deaths of over 20,000 soldiers and about 70,000–126,000 civilians. A similar bomb was dropped on another Japanese city of Nagasaki three days later leading to a further 80000 deaths. This was the first and only instance of the usage of nuclear weapons in the world. Read more about this incident for the IAS exam .

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Hiroshima Day – Series of Events

• The war in Europe had concluded after Germany surrendered on 8 th May 1945. But the war in the Pacific continued between the Allies and Japan.
• The Allies asked for an unconditional surrender from Japan at the Potsdam Declaration in July 1945. This ultimatum was, however, ignored by Japan who continued waging the war.
• The US had been developing nuclear weaponry through the Manhattan Project since the 1940s, especially after receiving information that Nazi Germany was also involved in such research. By August, the project had developed two kinds of atomic bombs.
• The US army had created a separate unit in 1944 called the 509 th Composite Group in order to operationalize the nuclear weapons usage in the war.
• After shortlisting five targets, the ‘Target Committee’ selected Hiroshima and Nagasaki because of their importance and industrial and military facilities.
• The orders for the atomic bombs to be used in Japanese cities were issued on July 25 th .
• On 6 th August, a B-29 (US army bomber) dropped the ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima. Little Boy was the codename for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima which was a uranium gun-type bomb.

Impact of Bombing  – Hiroshima Day

• Between 90000 and 146000 people died in Hiroshima. The city was immediately devastated after the bombing.
• For months after the bombing, people continued to die because of radiation sickness, burns and other wounds. Malnutrition and illness also compounded matters. Although most of the victims were civilians, some military personnel also were killed.

Other Similar Events (Cause & Impact)

• In Nagasaki, which was bombed on 9 th August, about 80000 people were killed. The bomb dropped on this city was nicknamed ‘Fat Man’. It was a plutonium implosion-type bomb.
• On 15 th August 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies. The War officially ended on 2 nd September when Japan signed the instrument of surrender.
• While many in the US defended its use of the atomic bombs arguing that it brought an end to the war which otherwise would have cost more lives, the legality and ethicality of the use of those weapons are still debated.
• Japan became a pacifist and non-nuclear country as a result of the horrendous effects of nuclear weapons.
• The effects of the radiation on the cities continued for decades with increased risks of cancer, birth defects and other anomalies in the survivors.
• In Japan, the survivors are called ‘Hibakusha’ (Japanese for ‘explosion-affected people’). There is about 650000 Hibakusha recognised by the government.
• Every year, August 6 th is observed as ‘Hiroshima Day’ in memory of the victims.
• The use of atomic bombs by the US also led to the Soviet Union starting its nuclear weapons program. The Soviet Union detonated an atomic bomb in 1949. This was the beginning of the Cold War .

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The day the sun rose twice: Hiroshima and the first horrifying time an atomic bomb was dropped

On the clear morning of August 6, 1945, the city of Hiroshima, Japan, became the first target of a weapon that would forever change the course of human history.

Within moments, a single atomic bomb reduced this bustling city to ashes, instantly claiming tens of thousands of lives and marking the dawn of the nuclear age.

Three days later, a second bomb devastated the city of Nagasaki, demonstrating the horrifying destructive power of nuclear weaponry on an unprecedented scale.

These cataclysmic events, which effectively ended World War II, continue to shape global politics, scientific research, and cultural memory, even as they evoke haunting questions about humanity's capacity for self-destruction.

What led to the decision to use such a catastrophic weapon?

What were the immediate and long-term impacts on the cities and their inhabitants? How have these events influenced the course of history and our contemporary world?

What motivated the development of atomic weapons?

By the mid-1940s, the globe was engulfed in the unprecedented violence and upheaval of the Second World War.

Despite victories on both the European and Pacific fronts, Allied forces were grappling with the prospect of a prolonged and costly invasion of mainland Japan.

The Japanese, with a deeply ingrained cultural code of honor, were expected to resist fiercely, drawing the war out and leading to an estimated hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of casualties.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the world, a secret project was underway that sought to harness the raw and terrifying power of the atom.

The Manhattan Project, initiated in 1939 and ramped up significantly in 1942, was a concerted effort by the United States, aided by the United Kingdom and Canada, to develop the first atomic weapons.

This monumental undertaking brought together some of the greatest scientific minds of the time, including Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Niels Bohr.

They worked in secret facilities across the U.S., with the primary location in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

This scientific and military endeavor was largely spurred by fears that Nazi Germany was developing its own nuclear weaponry.

However, by the time the first successful nuclear test - known as the "Trinity" test - was conducted on July 16, 1945, Germany had already surrendered, leaving Japan as the remaining Axis power.

The atomic bomb was a terrifyingly powerful weapon, the likes of which the world had never seen.

The bomb dropped on Hiroshima, known as "Little Boy," was a uranium-based device that relied on nuclear fission to unleash an explosion equivalent to approximately 15 kilotons of TNT.

The power of this single bomb was greater than all the explosives used in the entirety of World War I.

The agonising decision about whether to use the bomb

The decision to use atomic weaponry was a complex one, influenced by an array of strategic, political, and moral factors.

When President Harry S. Truman took office after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, World War II was still raging.

Truman was initially unaware of the Manhattan Project, but upon being briefed about this new and devastating weapon, he was confronted with a difficult decision.

The president and his advisors had to weigh the potential human cost against the perceived need to bring a swift end to the war.

One of the key elements factoring into the decision was the anticipated difficulty of a conventional invasion of Japan.

Allied intelligence suggested that Japan, despite being significantly weakened, was preparing for a fight to the bitter end.

A mainland invasion could have potentially resulted in a high number of casualties on both sides.

There were also geopolitical considerations at play, especially in relation to the Soviet Union.

Although the Allies had cooperated to defeat Nazi Germany, there were underlying tensions and the beginnings of the ideological rift that would lead to the Cold War.

Demonstrating the power of the atomic bomb could serve as a strong deterrent and a bargaining chip in the impending post-war negotiations.

Despite these reasons, the decision to use atomic bombs was not without controversy.

Some scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, as well as a few military and political figures, voiced objections.

They argued the bomb was a weapon of mass destruction that should not be used or that Japan should be warned before its use. However, these views did not sway the ultimate decision.

On July 26, 1945, the Potsdam Declaration was issued, calling for Japan's unconditional surrender and warning of "prompt and utter destruction" without specifying the nature of the new weapon. Japan's leadership did not accept this ultimatum.

In early August 1945, the decision was made. The target was Hiroshima. The course of history was about to be irrevocably changed by the immense power contained within a single bomb. 

The fateful day when Hiroshima was bombed

The early morning hours of August 6, 1945, began like any other day in Hiroshima. Nestled around seven river deltas on the coast of Japan's Honshu Island, Hiroshima was a bustling city, a key military and strategic target due to its military installations, industrial activity, and sizeable population.

Little did its inhabitants know that their city had been chosen as the first target of a weapon with unprecedented destructive capacity.

At 2:45 a.m., a B-29 bomber named the "Enola Gay" took off from Tinian, a North Pacific island in the Marianas, 1,500 miles south of Japan.

Piloted by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr., who had named the plane after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets, the aircraft carried a crew of twelve men and a single, uranium-235 bomb codenamed "Little Boy."

At 8:15 a.m. local time, the bomb bay doors of the Enola Gay opened, and "Little Boy" was released into the clear morning sky.

Forty-three seconds later, at an altitude of approximately 1,890 feet, the bomb detonated. The impact of the explosion was immediate and devastating.

A brilliant flash of light, many times brighter than the sun, filled the sky, followed by a shockwave that leveled buildings and set the city ablaze.

A fireball with a temperature hotter than the sun's surface incinerated everything within a one-mile radius of ground zero, the point directly below the detonation.

The bomb killed and injured thousands instantaneously, many of whom were civilians, while the resulting fires raged across the city, causing further damage and death.

From the air, the crew of the Enola Gay witnessed the mushroom cloud billowing up into the sky, a chilling testament to the devastation they had just unleashed.

The city of Hiroshima, a bustling urban center just moments before, lay in ruins, blanketed by the eerie silence of destruction.

The horrifying destruction caused by the blast

The immediate impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was nothing short of apocalyptic.

The detonation, which occurred approximately 600 meters above the city, unleashed a force equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT, instantly reducing a bustling metropolis to a smoldering ruin.

The intense heat and pressure of the blast wave incinerated everything in its path within a one-mile radius of ground zero.

The extreme temperatures, estimated to have exceeded 3000 to 4000 degrees Celsius, caused severe burns to exposed skin, even at significant distances from the epicenter.

People near the hypocenter were vaporized instantly, their bodies reduced to mere shadows imprinted on concrete and stone.

The blast also generated a shockwave that traveled at the speed of sound, obliterating buildings and other structures.

Roughly 70,000 of Hiroshima's 76,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Fires sparked by the heat and destruction quickly spread, fueled by ruptured gas lines and flammable materials, causing a firestorm that ravaged the city and further impeded rescue efforts.

An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people, approximately 30% of Hiroshima's population, were killed immediately or within the first day.

This included both military personnel and a significant number of civilians. The exact number is challenging to ascertain due to the complete devastation of civil records and the chaos following the explosion.

Those who survived the initial blast were left to grapple with a nightmarish landscape of collapsed buildings, raging fires, and the horrific injuries of those around them.

Many were severely injured, suffering from burns, wounds from flying debris, and the effects of intense radiation exposure.

Radiation sickness began to take hold in the hours following the detonation, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and a significant drop in white blood cells.

These initial symptoms were followed by a period of apparent recovery, before additional, more severe symptoms began to appear.

The physical and psychological trauma inflicted on the survivors, known as Hibakusha, was immense.

Amid the horror and destruction, these individuals displayed immense resilience as they navigated the aftermath of the bombing, working to rescue others, find loved ones, and simply survive in a city that had become unrecognizable overnight.

The bombing of Nagasaki and Japan's surrender

Three days after the devastation of Hiroshima, on August 9, 1945, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

Originally, the city of Kokura was the primary target, but due to visibility issues, the B-29 bomber Bockscar diverted to its secondary target, Nagasaki.

The bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," was a plutonium implosion-type device, even more potent than the uranium bomb "Little Boy" dropped on Hiroshima.

The hilly terrain of Nagasaki and the off-target detonation resulted in a somewhat reduced radius of total destruction, but the death toll and the devastation were still enormous.

Approximately 40,000 people were killed instantly, with thousands more injured. Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki was transformed in a matter of seconds, its population subjected to the same horrors of heat, blast, and radiation.

In the face of this unprecedented devastation, and with the Soviet Union declaring war on Japan on August 8, Japan's leaders found themselves in an untenable position.

After several days of intense debate within the government and the imperial household, Emperor Hirohito intervened, a highly unusual act, given the constitutional limits on the emperor's power.

On August 15, 1945, Hirohito announced Japan's surrender in a radio broadcast, an unprecedented event and the first time the Japanese public had heard their emperor's voice.

Known as the Jewel Voice Broadcast, Hirohito's speech referred to the devastating power of "a new and most cruel bomb" as a significant reason for Japan's surrender.

While the emperor's announcement signaled the end of World War II, the reality of surrender was fraught with tension.

Some military factions attempted a coup in an effort to prevent the surrender, reflecting the deeply ingrained ethos of fighting to the end.

The coup failed, and the formal surrender document was signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.

What lessons were learnt from Hiroshima?

The first use of nuclear weapons in warfare remains the subject of intense debate and controversy.

The primary justification offered by those in favor of the bombings was that they hastened the end of World War II, saving countless lives that would have been lost in a protracted Allied invasion of Japan.

Critics, however, have questioned the necessity and morality of using such devastating weapons, particularly against cities with large civilian populations.

Some argue that Japan was already on the brink of surrender and that other factors, like the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan, were equally instrumental in Japan's decision to surrender.

Controversy also surrounds the lack of explicit warning given to the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki about the nature of the atomic bomb, although leaflets warning of severe bombings were dropped on various Japanese cities.

Moreover, the selection of these particular cities, both significant civilian centers, has been the subject of scrutiny.

These debates have influenced the way these events are remembered and interpreted in public memory and education, both in Japan and worldwide.

In the United States, history textbooks often present the bombings as a necessary evil to end the war quickly.

In contrast, Japanese accounts focus more on the victims' experiences and the peace movement that emerged from the ashes.

The bombings catalyzed a significant push for scientific and technological progress.

The sheer destructiveness of the atomic bombs sparked an arms race during the Cold War, leading to the development of more potent thermonuclear weapons.

Paradoxically, the knowledge gained from the destructive application of nuclear energy also paved the way for peaceful uses, including nuclear power generation and advancements in medicine.

Out of the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a robust global movement for peace and nuclear disarmament was born.

Annual commemorations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki serve as a poignant reminder of the bombings' human cost and a call for a world free of nuclear weapons.

The accounts of the Hibakusha, the survivors of the bombings, have played a vital role in humanizing the abstract concept of nuclear war and highlighting its catastrophic consequences.

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Hiroshima Day 2021: History, significance, facts and impacts

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Hiroshima Day: History, significance and all you need to know

Hiroshima Day serves as a reminder of the devastation caused by nuclear warfare and aims to raise awareness about nuclear disarmament throughout the world

Hiroshima Day is commemorated every year on 6 August to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city Hiroshima during World War 2. Around 80,000 people were killed almost immediately and more than 35,000 were injured because of the bombing. It also resulted in massive structural damage, with 69 percent of the buildings in Hiroshima being destroyed. The unfortunate event took place on 6 August 1945. Another atomic bomb was also dropped on the city Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. The second bombing killed 74,000 people. The incidents mark the only recorded use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.

During World War 2, Japan had refused to surrender before the Allied Forces and was still holding out. To force its surrender, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Japanese city Hiroshima via an American B-29 bomber on 6 August 1945. This inhumane activity wiped out 39 percent of the population of the city. After three days, US dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II via radio on 15 August after witnessing the devastation caused by the bombings. The people of the two cities had to face serious after-effects of nuclear bombing for many years.

Significance:

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing. A peace ceremony takes place every year in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park to mark this day. To pay homage to the innocent lives lost during the bombing, many survivors of the attack gather there. An annual event by Galway Alliance Against War is also organised to remember the day in Eyre Square, Galway.

Together, the two nuclear attacks led to somewhere between 129,000 and 226,000 people losing their lives. Radiation poisoning, also referred to as “atomic bomb disease”, led to serious health effects like increased risk of cancer, birth defects, severe mental illnesses, and other complications.

Hiroshima Day serves as a reminder of the devastation caused by nuclear warfare and aims to raise awareness about nuclear disarmament throughout the world.

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Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

By: History.com Editors

Updated: July 31, 2024 | Original: November 18, 2009

On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion immediately killed an estimated 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another A-bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, citing the devastating power of “a new and most cruel bomb.”

The Manhattan Project

Even before the outbreak of war in 1939, a group of American scientists—many of them refugees from fascist regimes in Europe—became concerned with nuclear weapons research being conducted in Nazi Germany . In 1940, the U.S. government began funding its own atomic weapons development program, which came under the joint responsibility of the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the War Department after the U.S. entry into World War II . The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with spearheading the construction of the vast facilities necessary for the top-secret program, codenamed “The Manhattan Project ” (for the engineering corps’ Manhattan district).

Over the next several years, the program’s scientists worked on producing the key materials for nuclear fission—uranium-235 and plutonium (Pu-239). They sent them to Los Alamos, New Mexico , where a team led by J. Robert Oppenheimer worked to turn these materials into a workable atomic bomb. Early on the morning of July 16, 1945, the Manhattan Project held its first successful test of an atomic device —a plutonium bomb—at the Trinity test site at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

No Surrender for the Japanese

By the time of the Trinity test, the Allied powers had already defeated Germany in Europe . Japan, however, vowed to fight to the bitter end in the Pacific, despite clear indications (as early as 1944) that they had little chance of winning. In fact, between mid-April 1945 (when President Harry Truman took office) and mid-July, Japanese forces inflicted Allied casualties totaling nearly half those suffered in three full years of war in the Pacific, proving that Japan had become even more deadly when faced with defeat. In late July, Japan’s militarist government rejected the Allied demand for surrender put forth in the Potsdam Declaration, which threatened the Japanese with “prompt and utter destruction” if they refused.

General Douglas MacArthur and other top military commanders favored continuing the conventional bombing of Japan already in effect and following up with a massive invasion, codenamed “Operation Downfall.” They advised Truman that such an invasion would result in U.S. casualties of up to 1 million. In order to avoid such a high casualty rate, Truman decided–over the moral reservations of Secretary of War Henry Stimson, General Dwight Eisenhower and a number of the Manhattan Project scientists–to use the atomic bomb in the hopes of bringing the war to a quick end. Proponents of the A-bomb—such as James Byrnes, Truman’s secretary of state—believed that its devastating power would not only end the war, but also put the U.S. in a dominant position to determine the course of the postwar world.

Why Did the U.S. Bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Hiroshima, a manufacturing center of some 350,000 people located about 500 miles from Tokyo, was selected as the first target. After arriving at the U.S. base on the Pacific island of Tinian, the more than 9,000-pound uranium-235 bomb was loaded aboard a modified B-29 bomber christened Enola Gay (after the mother of its pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets). The plane dropped the bomb—known as “Little Boy”—by parachute at 8:15 in the morning, and it exploded 2,000 feet above Hiroshima in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons of TNT, destroying five square miles of the city.

Hiroshima’s devastation failed to elicit immediate Japanese surrender, however, and on August 9 Major Charles Sweeney flew another B-29 bomber, Bockscar , from Tinian. Thick clouds over the primary target, the city of Kokura, drove Sweeney to a secondary target, Nagasaki, where the plutonium bomb “Fat Man” was dropped at 11:02 that morning. More powerful than the one used at Hiroshima, the bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds and was built to produce a 22-kiloton blast. The topography of Nagasaki, which was nestled in narrow valleys between mountains, reduced the bomb’s effect, limiting the destruction to 2.6 square miles.

Aftermath of the Bombing

At noon on August 15, 1945 (Japanese time), Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s surrender in a radio broadcast. The news spread quickly, and “Victory in Japan” or “V-J Day” celebrations broke out across the United States and other Allied nations. The formal surrender agreement was signed on September 2, aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.

Because of the extent of the devastation and chaos—including the fact that much of the two cities' infrastructure was wiped out—exact death tolls from the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain unknown. However, it's estimated roughly 70,000 to 135,000 people died in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 people died in Nagasaki, both from acute exposure to the blasts and from long-term side effects of radiation. 

HISTORY Vault: Hiroshima - 75 Years Later

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.

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Eyewitness Account of Hiroshima

By father john a. siemes, professor of modern philosophy at tokyo's catholic university.

Hiroshima- August 6th, 1945

August 6th began in a bright, clear, summer morning. About seven o'clock, there was an air raid alarm which we had heard almost every day and a few planes appeared over the city. No one paid any attention and at about eight o'clock, the all-clear was sounded. I am sitting in my room at the Novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Nagatsuke; during the past half year, the philosophical and theological section of our Mission had been evacuated to this place from Tokyo. The Novitiate is situated approximately two kilometers from Hiroshima, half-way up the sides of a broad valley which stretches from the town at sea level into this mountainous hinterland, and through which courses a river. From my window, I have a wonderful view down the valley to the edge of the city.

Suddenly--the time is approximately 8:14--the whole valley is filled by a garish light which resembles the magnesium light used in photography, and I am conscious of a wave of heat. I jump to the window to find out the cause of this remarkable phenomenon, but I see nothing more than that brilliant yellow light. As I make for the door, it doesn't occur to me that the light might have something to do with enemy planes. On the way from the window, I hear a moderately loud explosion which seems to come from a distance and, at the same time, the windows are broken in with a loud crash. There has been an interval of perhaps ten seconds since the flash of light. I am sprayed by fragments of glass. The entire window frame has been forced into the room. I realize now that a bomb has burst and I am under the impression that it exploded directly over our house or in the immediate vicinity.

I am bleeding from cuts about the hands and head. I attempt to get out of the door. It has been forced outwards by the air pressure and has become jammed. I force an opening in the door by means of repeated blows with my hands and feet and come to a broad hallway from which open the various rooms. Everything is in a state of confusion. All windows are broken and all the doors are forced inwards. The bookshelves in the hallway have tumbled down. I do not note a second explosion and the fliers seem to have gone on. Most of my colleagues have been injured by fragments of glass. A few are bleeding but none has been seriously injured. All of us have been fortunate since it is now apparent that the wall of my room opposite the window has been lacerated by long fragments of glass.

We proceed to the front of the house to see where the bomb has landed. There is no evidence, however, of a bomb crater; but the southeast section of the house is very severely damaged. Not a door nor a window remains. The blast of air had penetrated the entire house from the southeast, but the house still stands. It is constructed in a Japanese style with a wooden framework, but has been greatly strengthened by the labor of our Brother Gropper as is frequently done in Japanese homes. Only along the front of the chapel which adjoins the house, three supports have given way (it has been made in the manner of Japanese temple, entirely out of wood.)

Down in the valley, perhaps one kilometer toward the city from us, several peasant homes are on fire and the woods on the opposite side of the valley are aflame. A few of us go over to help control the flames. While we are attempting to put things in order, a storm comes up and it begins to rain. Over the city, clouds of smoke are rising and I hear a few slight explosions. I come to the conclusion that an incendiary bomb with an especially strong explosive action has gone off down in the valley. A few of us saw three planes at great altitude over the city at the time of the explosion. I, myself, saw no aircraft whatsoever.

Perhaps a half-hour after the explosion, a procession of people begins to stream up the valley from the city. The crowd thickens continuously. A few come up the road to our house. We give them first aid and bring them into the chapel, which we have in the meantime cleaned and cleared of wreckage, and put them to rest on the straw mats which constitute the floor of Japanese houses. A few display horrible wounds of the extremities and back. The small quantity of fat which we possessed during this time of war was soon used up in the care of the burns. Father Rektor who, before taking holy orders, had studied medicine, ministers to the injured, but our bandages and drugs are soon gone. We must be content with cleansing the wounds.

More and more of the injured come to us. The least injured drag the more seriously wounded. There are wounded soldiers, and mothers carrying burned children in their arms. From the houses of the farmers in the valley comes word: "Our houses are full of wounded and dying. Can you help, at least by taking the worst cases?" The wounded come from the sections at the edge of the city. They saw the bright light, their houses collapsed and buried the inmates in their rooms. Those that were in the open suffered instantaneous burns, particularly on the lightly clothed or unclothed parts of the body. Numerous fires sprang up which soon consumed the entire district. We now conclude that the epicenter of the explosion was at the edge of the city near the Jokogawa Station, three kilometers away from us. We are concerned about Father Kopp who that same morning, went to hold Mass at the Sisters of the Poor, who have a home for children at the edge of the city. He had not returned as yet.

Toward noon, our large chapel and library are filled with the seriously injured. The procession of refugees from the city continues. Finally, about one o'clock, Father Kopp returns, together with the Sisters. Their house and the entire district where they live has burned to the ground. Father Kopp is bleeding about the head and neck, and he has a large burn on the right palm. He was standing in front of the nunnery ready to go home. All of a sudden, he became aware of the light, felt the wave of heat and a large blister formed on his hand. The windows were torn out by the blast. He thought that the bomb had fallen in his immediate vicinity. The nunnery, also a wooden structure made by our Brother Gropper, still remained but soon it is noted that the house is as good as lost because the fire, which had begun at many points in the neighborhood, sweeps closer and closer, and water is not available. There is still time to rescue certain things from the house and to bury them in an open spot. Then the house is swept by flame, and they fight their way back to us along the shore of the river and through the burning streets.

Soon comes news that the entire city has been destroyed by the explosion and that it is on fire. What became of Father Superior and the three other Fathers who were at the center of the city at the Central Mission and Parish House? We had up to this time not given them a thought because we did not believe that the effects of the bomb encompassed the entire city. Also, we did not want to go into town except under pressure of dire necessity, because we thought that the population was greatly perturbed and that it might take revenge on any foreigners which they might consider spiteful onlookers of their misfortune, or even spies.

Father Stolte and Father Erlinghagen go down to the road which is still full of refugees and bring in the seriously injured who have sunken by the wayside, to the temporary aid station at the village school. There iodine is applied to the wounds but they are left uncleansed. Neither ointments nor other therapeutic agents are available. Those that have been brought in are laid on the floor and no one can give them any further care. What could one do when all means are lacking? Under those circumstances, it is almost useless to bring them in. Among the passersby, there are many who are uninjured. In a purposeless, insensate manner, distraught by the magnitude of the disaster most of them rush by and none conceives the thought of organizing help on his own initiative. They are concerned only with the welfare of their own families. It became clear to us during these days that the Japanese displayed little initiative, preparedness, and organizational skill in preparation for catastrophes. They failed to carry out any rescue work when something could have been saved by a cooperative effort, and fatalistically let the catastrophe take its course. When we urged them to take part in the rescue work, they did everything willingly, but on their own initiative they did very little.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon, a theology student and two kindergarten children, who lived at the Parish House and adjoining buildings which had burned down, came in and said that Father Superior LaSalle and Father Schiffer had been seriously injured and that they had taken refuge in Asano Park on the river bank. It is obvious that we must bring them in since they are too weak to come here on foot.

Hurriedly, we get together two stretchers and seven of us rush toward the city. Father Rektor comes along with food and medicine. The closer we get to the city, the greater is the evidence of destruction and the more difficult it is to make our way. The houses at the edge of the city are all severely damaged. Many have collapsed or burned down. Further in, almost all of the dwellings have been damaged by fire. Where the city stood, there is a gigantic burned-out scar. We make our way along the street on the river bank among the burning and smoking ruins. Twice we are forced into the river itself by the heat and smoke at the level of the street.

Frightfully burned people beckon to us. Along the way, there are many dead and dying. On the Misasi Bridge, which leads into the inner city we are met by a long procession of soldiers who have suffered burns. They drag themselves along with the help of staves or are carried by their less severely injured comrades...an endless procession of the unfortunate.

Abandoned on the bridge, there stand with sunken heads a number of horses with large burns on their flanks. On the far side, the cement structure of the local hospital is the only building that remains standing. Its interior, however, has been burned out. It acts as a landmark to guide us on our way.

Finally we reach the entrance of the park. A large proportion of the populace has taken refuge there, but even the trees of the park are on fire in several places. Paths and bridges are blocked by the trunks of fallen trees and are almost impassable. We are told that a high wind, which may well have resulted from the heat of the burning city, has uprooted the large trees. It is now quite dark. Only the fires, which are still raging in some places at a distance, give out a little light.

At the far corner of the park, on the river bank itself, we at last come upon our colleagues. Father Schiffer is on the ground pale as a ghost. He has a deep incised wound behind the ear and has lost so much blood that we are concerned about his chances for survival. The Father Superior has suffered a deep wound of the lower leg. Father Cieslik and Father Kleinsorge have minor injuries but are completely exhausted.

While they are eating the food that we have brought along, they tell us of their experiences. They were in their rooms at the Parish House--it was a quarter after eight, exactly the time when we had heard the explosion in Nagatsuke--when came the intense light and immediately thereafter the sound of breaking windows, walls and furniture. They were showered with glass splinters and fragments of wreckage. Father Schiffer was buried beneath a portion of a wall and suffered a severe head injury. The Father Superior received most of the splinters in his back and lower extremity from which he bled copiously. Everything was thrown about in the rooms themselves, but the wooden framework of the house remained intact. The solidity of the structure which was the work of Brother Gropper again shone forth.

They had the same impression that we had in Nagatsuke: that the bomb had burst in their immediate vicinity. The Church, school, and all buildings in the immediate vicinity collapsed at once. Beneath the ruins of the school, the children cried for help. They were freed with great effort. Several others were also rescued from the ruins of nearby dwellings. Even the Father Superior and Father Schiffer despite their wounds, rendered aid to others and lost a great deal of blood in the process.

In the meantime, fires which had begun some distance away are raging even closer, so that it becomes obvious that everything would soon burn down. Several objects are rescued from the Parish House and were buried in a clearing in front of the Church, but certain valuables and necessities which had been kept ready in case of fire could not be found on account of the confusion which had been wrought. It is high time to flee, since the oncoming flames leave almost no way open. Fukai, the secretary of the Mission, is completely out of his mind. He does not want to leave the house and explains that he does not want to survive the destruction of his fatherland. He is completely uninjured. Father Kleinsorge drags him out of the house on his back and he is forcefully carried away.

Beneath the wreckage of the houses along the way, many have been trapped and they scream to be rescued from the oncoming flames. They must be left to their fate. The way to the place in the city to which one desires to flee is no longer open and one must make for Asano Park. Fukai does not want to go further and remains behind. He has not been heard from since. In the park, we take refuge on the bank of the river. A very violent whirlwind now begins to uproot large trees, and lifts them high into the air. As it reaches the water, a waterspout forms which is approximately 100 meters high. The violence of the storm luckily passes us by. Some distance away, however, where numerous refugees have taken shelter, many are blown into the river. Almost all who are in the vicinity have been injured and have lost relatives who have been pinned under the wreckage or who have been lost sight of during the flight. There is no help for the wounded and some die. No one pays any attention to a dead man lying nearby.

The transportation of our own wounded is difficult. It is not possible to dress their wounds properly in the darkness, and they bleed again upon slight motion. As we carry them on the shaky litters in the dark over fallen trees of the park, they suffer unbearable pain as the result of the movement, and lose dangerously large quantities of blood. Our rescuing angel in this difficult situation is a Japanese Protestant pastor. He has brought up a boat and offers to take our wounded up stream to a place where progress is easier. First, we lower the litter containing Father Schiffer into the boat and two of us accompany him. We plan to bring the boat back for the Father Superior. The boat returns about one-half hour later and the pastor requests that several of us help in the rescue of two children whom he had seen in the river. We rescue them. They have severe burns. Soon they suffer chills and die in the park.

The Father Superior is conveyed in the boat in the same manner as Father Schiffer. The theology student and myself accompany him. Father Cieslik considers himself strong enough to make his way on foot to Nagatsuke with the rest of us, but Father Kleinsorge cannot walk so far and we leave him behind and promise to come for him and the housekeeper tomorrow. From the other side of the stream comes the whinny of horses who are threatened by the fire. We land on a sand spit which juts out from the shore. It is full of wounded who have taken refuge there. They scream for aid for they are afraid of drowning as the river may rise with the sea, and cover the sand spit. They themselves are too weak to move. However, we must press on and finally we reach the spot where the group containing Father Schiffer is waiting.

Here a rescue party had brought a large case of fresh rice cakes but there is no one to distribute them to the numerous wounded that lie all about. We distribute them to those that are nearby and also help ourselves. The wounded call for water and we come to the aid of a few. Cries for help are heard from a distance, but we cannot approach the ruins from which they come. A group of soldiers comes along the road and their officer notices that we speak a strange language. He at once draws his sword, screamingly demands who we are and threatens to cut us down. Father Laures, Jr., seizes his arm and explains that we are German. We finally quiet him down. He thought that we might well be Americans who had parachuted down. Rumors of parachutists were being bandied about the city. The Father Superior who was clothed only in a shirt and trousers, complains of feeling freezing cold, despite the warm summer night and the heat of the burning city. The one man among us who possesses a coat gives it to him and, in addition, I give him my own shirt. To me, it seems more comfortable to be without a shirt in the heat.

In the meantime, it has become midnight. Since there are not enough of us to man both litters with four strong bearers, we determine to remove Father Schiffer first to the outskirts of the city. From there, another group of bearers is to take over to Nagatsuke; the others are to turn back in order to rescue the Father Superior. I am one of the bearers. The theology student goes in front to warn us of the numerous wires, beams and fragments of ruins which block the way and which are impossible to see in the dark. Despite all precautions, our progress is stumbling and our feet get tangled in the wire. Father Kruer falls and carries the litter with him. Father Schiffer becomes half unconscious from the fall and vomits. We pass an injured man who sits all alone among the hot ruins and whom I had seen previously on the way down.

On the Misasa Bridge, we meet Father Tappe and Father Luhmer, who have come to meet us from Nagatsuke. They had dug a family out of the ruins of their collapsed house some fifty meters off the road. The father of the family was already dead. They had dragged out two girls and placed them by the side of the road. Their mother was still trapped under some beams. They had planned to complete the rescue and then to press on to meet us. At the outskirts of the city, we put down the litter and leave two men to wait until those who are to come from Nagatsuke appear. The rest of us turn back to fetch the Father Superior.

Most of the ruins have now burned down. The darkness kindly hides the many forms that lie on the ground. Only occasionally in our quick progress do we hear calls for help. One of us remarks that the remarkable burned smell reminds him of incinerated corpses. The upright, squatting form which we had passed by previously is still there.

Transportation on the litter, which has been constructed out of boards, must be very painful to the Father Superior, whose entire back is full of fragments of glass. In a narrow passage at the edge of town, a car forces us to the edge of the road. The litter bearers on the left side fall into a two meter deep ditch which they could not see in the darkness. Father Superior hides his pain with a dry joke, but the litter which is now no longer in one piece cannot be carried further. We decide to wait until Kinjo can bring a hand cart from Nagatsuke. He soon comes back with one that he has requisitioned from a collapsed house. We place Father Superior on the cart and wheel him the rest of the way, avoiding as much as possible the deeper pits in the road.

About half past four in the morning, we finally arrive at the Novitiate. Our rescue expedition had taken almost twelve hours. Normally, one could go back and forth to the city in two hours. Our two wounded were now, for the first time, properly dressed. I get two hours sleep on the floor; some one else has taken my own bed. Then I read a Mass in gratiarum actionem, it is the 7th of August, the anniversary of the foundation of our society. Then we bestir ourselves to bring Father Kleinsorge and other acquaintances out of the city.

We take off again with the hand cart. The bright day now reveals the frightful picture which last night's darkness had partly concealed. Where the city stood everything, as far as the eye could reach, is a waste of ashes and ruin. Only several skeletons of buildings completely burned out in the interior remain. The banks of the river are covered with dead and wounded, and the rising waters have here and there covered some of the corpses. On the broad street in the Hakushima district, naked burned cadavers are particularly numerous. Among them are the wounded who are still alive. A few have crawled under the burnt-out autos and trams. Frightfully injured forms beckon to us and then collapse. An old woman and a girl whom she is pulling along with her fall down at our feet. We place them on our cart and wheel them to the hospital at whose entrance a dressing station has been set up. Here the wounded lie on the hard floor, row on row. Only the largest wounds are dressed. We convey another soldier and an old woman to the place but we cannot move everybody who lies exposed in the sun. It would be endless and it is questionable whether those whom we can drag to the dressing station can come out alive, because even here nothing really effective can be done. Later, we ascertain that the wounded lay for days in the burnt-out hallways of the hospital and there they died.

We must proceed to our goal in the park and are forced to leave the wounded to their fate. We make our way to the place where our church stood to dig up those few belongings that we had buried yesterday. We find them intact. Everything else has been completely burned. In the ruins, we find a few molten remnants of holy vessels. At the park, we load the housekeeper and a mother with her two children on the cart. Father Kleinsorge feels strong enough, with the aid of Brother Nobuhara, to make his way home on foot. The way back takes us once again past the dead and wounded in Hakushima. Again no rescue parties are in evidence. At the Misasa Bridge, there still lies the family which the Fathers Tappe and Luhmer had yesterday rescued from the ruins. A piece of tin had been placed over them to shield them from the sun. We cannot take them along for our cart is full. We give them and those nearby water to drink and decide to rescue them later. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we are back in Nagatsuka.

After we have had a few swallows and a little food, Fathers Stolte, Luhmer, Erlinghagen and myself, take off once again to bring in the family. Father Kleinsorge requests that we also rescue two children who had lost their mother and who had lain near him in the park. On the way, we were greeted by strangers who had noted that we were on a mission of mercy and who praised our efforts. We now met groups of individuals who were carrying the wounded about on litters. As we arrived at the Misasa Bridge, the family that had been there was gone. They might well have been borne away in the meantime. There was a group of soldiers at work taking away those that had been sacrificed yesterday.

More than thirty hours had gone by until the first official rescue party had appeared on the scene. We find both children and take them out of the park: a six-year old boy who was uninjured, and a twelve-year old girl who had been burned about the head, hands and legs, and who had lain for thirty hours without care in the park. The left side of her face and the left eye were completely covered with blood and pus, so that we thought that she had lost the eye. When the wound was later washed, we noted that the eye was intact and that the lids had just become stuck together. On the way home, we took another group of three refugees with us. They first wanted to know, however, of what nationality we were. They, too, feared that we might be Americans who had parachuted in. When we arrived in Nagatsuka, it had just become dark.

We took under our care fifty refugees who had lost everything. The majority of them were wounded and not a few had dangerous burns. Father Rektor treated the wounds as well as he could with the few medicaments that we could, with effort, gather up. He had to confine himself in general to cleansing the wounds of purulent material. Even those with the smaller burns are very weak and all suffered from diarrhea. In the farm houses in the vicinity, almost everywhere, there are also wounded. Father Rektor made daily rounds and acted in the capacity of a painstaking physician and was a great Samaritan. Our work was, in the eyes of the people, a greater boost for Christianity than all our work during the preceding long years.

Three of the severely burned in our house died within the next few days. Suddenly the pulse and respirations ceased. It is certainly a sign of our good care that so few died. In the official aid stations and hospitals, a good third or half of those that had been brought in died. They lay about there almost without care, and a very high percentage succumbed. Everything was lacking: doctors, assistants, dressings, drugs, etc. In an aid station at a school at a nearby village, a group of soldiers for several days did nothing except to bring in and cremate the dead behind the school.

During the next few days, funeral processions passed our house from morning to night, bringing the deceased to a small valley nearby. There, in six places, the dead were burned. People brought their own wood and themselves did the cremation. Father Luhmer and Father Laures found a dead man in a nearby house who had already become bloated and who emitted a frightful odor. They brought him to this valley and incinerated him themselves. Even late at night, the little valley was lit up by the funeral pyres.

We made systematic efforts to trace our acquaintances and the families of the refugees whom we had sheltered. Frequently, after the passage of several weeks, some one was found in a distant village or hospital but of many there was no news, and these were apparently dead. We were lucky to discover the mother of the two children whom we had found in the park and who had been given up for dead. After three weeks, she saw her children once again. In the great joy of the reunion were mingled the tears for those whom we shall not see again.

The magnitude of the disaster that befell Hiroshima on August 6th was only slowly pieced together in my mind. I lived through the catastrophe and saw it only in flashes, which only gradually were merged to give me a total picture. What actually happened simultaneously in the city as a whole is as follows: As a result of the explosion of the bomb at 8:15, almost the entire city was destroyed at a single blow. Only small outlying districts in the southern and eastern parts of the town escaped complete destruction. The bomb exploded over the center of the city. As a result of the blast, the small Japanese houses in a diameter of five kilometers, which compressed 99% of the city, collapsed or were blown up. Those who were in the houses were buried in the ruins. Those who were in the open sustained burns resulting from contact with the substance or rays emitted by the bomb. Where the substance struck in quantity, fires sprang up. These spread rapidly.

The heat which rose from the center created a whirlwind which was effective in spreading fire throughout the whole city. Those who had been caught beneath the ruins and who could not be freed rapidly, and those who had been caught by the flames, became casualties. As much as six kilometers from the center of the explosion, all houses were damaged and many collapsed and caught fire. Even fifteen kilometers away, windows were broken. It was rumored that the enemy fliers had spread an explosive and incendiary material over the city and then had created the explosion and ignition. A few maintained that they saw the planes drop a parachute which had carried something that exploded at a height of 1,000 meters. The newspapers called the bomb an "atomic bomb" and noted that the force of the blast had resulted from the explosion of uranium atoms, and that gamma rays had been sent out as a result of this, but no one knew anything for certain concerning the nature of the bomb.

How many people were a sacrifice to this bomb? Those who had lived through the catastrophe placed the number of dead at at least 100,000. Hiroshima had a population of 400,000. Official statistics place the number who had died at 70,000 up to September 1st, not counting the missing ... and 130,000 wounded, among them 43,500 severely wounded. Estimates made by ourselves on the basis of groups known to us show that the number of 100,000 dead is not too high. Near us there are two barracks, in each of which forty Korean workers lived. On the day of the explosion, they were laboring on the streets of Hiroshima. Four returned alive to one barracks and sixteen to the other. 600 students of the Protestant girls' school worked in a factory, from which only thirty to forty returned. Most of the peasant families in the neighborhood lost one or more of their members who had worked at factories in the city. Our next door neighbor, Tamura, lost two children and himself suffered a large wound since, as it happened, he had been in the city on that day. The family of our reader suffered two dead, father and son; thus a family of five members suffered at least two losses, counting only the dead and severely wounded. There died the Mayor, the President of the central Japan district, the Commander of the city, a Korean prince who had been stationed in Hiroshima in the capacity of an officer, and many other high ranking officers. Of the professors of the University, thirty-two were killed or severely injured. Especially hard hit were the soldiers. The Pioneer Regiment was almost entirely wiped out. The barracks were near the center of the explosion.

Thousands of wounded who died later could doubtless have been rescued had they received proper treatment and care, but rescue work in a catastrophe of this magnitude had not been envisioned; since the whole city had been knocked out at a blow, everything which had been prepared for emergency work was lost, and no preparation had been made for rescue work in the outlying districts. Many of the wounded also died because they had been weakened by under-nourishment and consequently lacked in strength to recover. Those who had their normal strength and who received good care slowly healed the burns which had been occasioned by the bomb. There were also cases, however, whose prognosis seemed good who died suddenly. There were also some who had only small external wounds who died within a week or later, after an inflammation of the pharynx and oral cavity had taken place. We thought at first that this was the result of inhalation of the substance of the bomb. Later, a commission established the thesis that gamma rays had been given out at the time of the explosion, following which the internal organs had been injured in a manner resembling that consequent upon Roentgen irradiation. This produces a diminution in the numbers of the white corpuscles.

Only several cases are known to me personally where individuals who did not have external burns later died. Father Kleinsorge and Father Cieslik, who were near the center of the explosion, but who did not suffer burns became quite weak some fourteen days after the explosion. Up to this time small incised wounds had healed normally, but thereafter the wounds which were still unhealed became worse and are to date (in September) still incompletely healed. The attending physician diagnosed it as leucopania. There thus seems to be some truth in the statement that the radiation had some effect on the blood. I am of the opinion, however, that their generally undernourished and weakened condition was partly responsible for these findings. It was noised about that the ruins of the city emitted deadly rays and that workers who went there to aid in the clearing died, and that the central district would be uninhabitable for some time to come. I have my doubts as to whether such talk is true and myself and others who worked in the ruined area for some hours shortly after the explosion suffered no such ill effects.

None of us in those days heard a single outburst against the Americans on the part of the Japanese, nor was there any evidence of a vengeful spirit. The Japanese suffered this terrible blow as part of the fortunes of war ... something to be borne without complaint. During this, war, I have noted relatively little hatred toward the allies on the part of the people themselves, although the press has taken occasion to stir up such feelings. After the victories at the beginning of the war, the enemy was rather looked down upon, but when allied offensive gathered momentum and especially after the advent of the majestic B-29's, the technical skill of America became an object of wonder and admiration.

The following anecdote indicates the spirit of the Japanese: A few days after the atomic bombing, the secretary of the University came to us asserting that the Japanese were ready to destroy San Francisco by means of an equally effective bomb. It is dubious that he himself believed what he told us. He merely wanted to impress upon us foreigners that the Japanese were capable of similar discoveries. In his nationalistic pride, he talked himself into believing this. The Japanese also intimated that the principle of the new bomb was a Japanese discovery. It was only lack of raw materials, they said, which prevented its construction. In the meantime, the Germans were said to have carried the discovery to a further stage and were about to initiate such bombing. The Americans were reputed to have learned the secret from the Germans, and they had then brought the bomb to a stage of industrial completion.

We have discussed among ourselves the ethics of the use of the bomb. Some consider it in the same category as poison gas and were against its use on a civil population. Others were of the view that in total war, as carried on in Japan, there was no difference between civilians and soldiers, and that the bomb itself was an effective force tending to end the bloodshed, warning Japan to surrender and thus to avoid total destruction. It seems logical to me that he who supports total war in principle cannot complain of war against civilians. The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable, even when it serves a just purpose. Does it not have material and spiritual evil as its consequences which far exceed whatever good that might result? When will our moralists give us a clear answer to this question?

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by US air forces. This was the first time a nuclear weapon had ever been used; the fireball created by the bomb destroyed 13 square kilometres of the city, and those dead as a result numbered up to 180,000.

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Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing between 50,000 and 100,000 people.

The impact of the bombing on Hiroshima

Hiroshima stands on a flat river delta, with few hills or natural features to limit the blast. The bomb was dropped on the city centre, an area crowded with wooden residential structures and places of business. These factors meant that the death toll and destruction in Hiroshima was particularly high.

The firestorm in Hiroshima destroyed 13 square kilometres (five square miles) of the city. Almost 63% of the buildings in Hiroshima were completely destroyed and many more were damaged. In total, 92% of the structures in the city were either destroyed or damaged by blast and fire.

Estimates of total deaths in Hiroshima have generally ranged between 100,000 and 180,000, out of a population of 350,000. Tens of thousands died immediately and many more in the days and months that followed.

The impact of the bombing on Nagasaki

Due to the hilly geography of Nagasaki and the bombing focus being away from the city centre, the excessive damage from the bombing was limited to the Urakami Valley and part of downtown Nagasaki. The centre of Nagasaki, the harbour, and the historic district were shielded from the blast by the hills around the Urakami River.

The nuclear bombing did nevertheless prove devastating, with approximately 22.7% of Nagasaki’s buildings being consumed by flames, but the death toll and destruction was less than in Hiroshima. Estimates of casualties from Nagasaki have generally ranged between 50,000 and 100,000, with many dying instantaneously and others dying slowly and agonisingly as a result of burns and radiation.

Effect of a nuclear weapon

These two events still resonate to this day and serve as the greatest warning of the devastating effects of nuclear weapons.

As well as the high death toll, those that survived the initial detonation and firestorms quickly became ill with radiation poisoning with symptoms ranging from severe burns, hair loss, nausea and bleeding. This was compounded by the fact that 90% of medical staff in both cities were either killed or disabled and what medical supplies existed quickly ran out. Long after the bombings, survivors were still suffering from increased susceptibility to leukaemia, cataracts and malignant tumours with many also being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder later in life.

This suffering goes beyond the survivors. Future generations either born to survivors or born to those living in Hiroshima for years to come had increased chances of small brain sizes, delayed development, blindness and increased susceptibility to leukaemia and other cancers. The bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki represent a human tragedy which should never be repeated.

The Hibakusha (survivors of the bomb) have campaigned for many years to have the impact of nuclear weapons acknowledged. They have educated generations on the subject, a contributing factor in the growing international momentum focused on the humanitarian impact of these weapons.

International momentum

In 2010 the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference’s final document officially expressed ‘deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons’ for the first time. Following this, a group of countries began delivering joint statements on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons: . This movement was the precursor to demands at the United Nations for a global nuclear weapons ban.

The historical experience from the use and testing of nuclear weapons, including at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has demonstrated their devastating immediate and long-term effects. No political circumstances can justify their use. And of course, today’s nuclear bombs are many times more powerful than the ones used on Japan in 1945.

The International Red Cross has identified further humanitarian consequences of a nuclear explosion, including widespread famine and the destruction of medical facilities and personnel. The organisation has stated that the global humanitarian community would never be able to effectively respond to the aftermath of a nuclear conflict. An International Red Cross report recently stated, ‘We are not talking about the possibility of another Hiroshima and Nagasaki, horrendous as they were. We are facing the prospect of something much, much worse.’

Increasing awareness of the impact of a nuclear bomb, building on what we know from the attacks in 1945, contribute to a growing sense of urgency in the international community about securing an end to nuclear weapons.

The risk of accidental or intentional use of nuclear weapons remains significant. No state or international organisation has the capacity to address or provide the short and long term humanitarian assistance and protection needed in case of a nuclear weapon explosion.

When the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the cities were obliterated. By 1950, over 340,000 people had died as a result and generations were poisoned by radiation.

Today 15,000 nuclear weapons still threaten the survival of the world, even though the majority of people in the world and their governments want to negotiate an international ban on their development and use.

As we commemorate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let’s remember what a nuclear bomb can do and pledge to work together to make sure no other towns suffer the same pain and devastation.

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116 Hiroshima Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Hiroshima, a city in Japan that holds a significant place in history due to the atomic bombing it suffered during World War II, is a topic that is often discussed and studied by students and scholars alike. If you are tasked with writing an essay on Hiroshima, you may be wondering where to start. To help you out, here are 116 Hiroshima essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing:

• The events leading up to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's infrastructure
• The psychological effects of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's residents
• The role of the United States in the decision to bomb Hiroshima
• The long-term health effects of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's survivors
• The reconstruction efforts in Hiroshima after the atomic bombing
• The moral implications of using atomic weapons on civilian populations
• The historical context of Hiroshima's role in World War II
• The cultural significance of Hiroshima in Japanese history
• The role of memorialization in remembering the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• The political fallout of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's economy
• The significance of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
• The scientific advancements that led to the development of atomic weapons
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting nuclear disarmament
• The legacy of Hiroshima in shaping international relations
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's environment
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting peace and reconciliation
• The personal stories of Hiroshima's survivors
• The role of Hiroshima in shaping Japanese identity
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's children
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting nuclear non-proliferation
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's educational system
• The cultural response to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• The role of the media in shaping public perceptions of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's political landscape
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting global awareness of nuclear weapons
• The ethical implications of using atomic weapons in warfare
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's art and literature
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting intercultural dialogue
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's tourism industry
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting nuclear disarmament treaties
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's religious institutions
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting peace education
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's social fabric
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting human rights
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's healthcare system
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting environmental sustainability
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's architecture
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting cultural exchange
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's transportation infrastructure
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting international cooperation
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's agricultural sector
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting peacebuilding efforts
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's technological development
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting gender equality
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's educational opportunities
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting social justice
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's mental health services
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting conflict resolution
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's cultural heritage
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting economic development
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's transportation system
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting human security
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's healthcare infrastructure
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting sustainable development
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's social services
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting disaster preparedness
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's energy sector
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting community resilience
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's water supply
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting peace and security
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's waste management
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting social cohesion
• The impact of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima's telecommunications
• The role of Hiroshima in promoting environmental protection
• The impact of

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Hiroshima Day 2021: History, Facts and Impacts

Hiroshima day 2021: it is observed on august 6 every year to promote "peace politics".  it is the day when in 1945 an atomic bomb was dropped in the city of hiroshima, japan. let us read it in detail.    .

Hiroshima Day 2021: American bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The bomb was equivalent to the power of 12-15,000 tons of TNT and known as Little Boy. It reduced four square miles of the city to ruins killing almost 80,000 people and injuring about 35,000. 

After three days another atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki, Japan. As a result, Emperor of Japan Hirohito announced unconditional surrender in World War II on the radio on August 15 by informing the devastating power of a new and most cruel bomb.

Till now people didn't saw again the use of the nuclear bomb on civilians but what people suffered in Japan even can't be explained. The situations at that time become worst. People suffered several types of diseases due to exposure to radiation.

This bombing ended Second World War. The annual event is organised by the Galway Alliance Against War in Eyre Square. It marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States in 1945. To promote "peace politics" the Galway Alliance Against War holds the event every year with various programs like music, song, dance, etc.

List of Countries with Nuclear Weapon

The nuclear bomb that was dropped in Hiroshima city of Japan was named "Little Boy". What is the story behind it? The first target selected by the American forces to throw a bomb was a manufacturing center of about 350,000 people located about 500 miles from Tokyo. On the Pacific island of Tinian, after arriving at the U.S base the 9000-pound Uranium-235 bomb was loaded aboard a modified B-29 bomber named “Enola Gay”. The plane dropped the bomb known as "Little Boy" at 8:15 am Japanese time and it was exploded approx. 2000 feet above Hiroshima in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons of TNT and destroyed around four square miles of the city.

But Japan did not surrender in the Second World War, and then further another nuclear bomb was dropped in Nagasaki which results in the surrender of the Japanese Emperor and in this way Second World War came to an end. No doubt two cities were destroyed at that time.

What was the damage caused by the “Little Boy” bomb in Hiroshima?

When the bomb was exploded in Hiroshima, Japan, the city was struck by a flash of blinding light, and then a giant-shaped cloud was formed like a mushroom. In fact, with a 2.5 km of radius, the bomb blast had flattened the buildings. Let us tell you that before dropping the bomb there were around 90,000 buildings in Hiroshima and after the bomb blast, only 28,000 remained. Several thousands of people were killed and injured. As we know that it was not a normal bomb, people suffered a lot even later on also. The nuclear radiation that came out from the bomb when it was exploded caused horrible illness among people. Because of these injuries, thousands of more people died and the sickness caused due to the radiation followed weeks, months, and years.

What is the reason for the U.S dropping the bomb?

As we know that during Second World War Japan was against America and its allies including Britain and the Soviet Union. The allies were winning the war and Japan was pushed back from several locations. Fighting during the war was very horrible. Several soldiers were dying every day. Japan had been at war for so many years. And as a result countries near to it like China and Japan together had attacked America. Everywhere there were soldiers of Japanese troops and were very cruel. They were so cruel that the soldiers of Britishers and Americans who had surrendered were treated very badly by Japanese soldiers. The president of the US Harry S Truman wanted to surrender Japanese soldiers as quickly as possible so that he could save lives. So, he threw a nuclear bomb with the view that the Japanese while seeing the destruction will surrender. The US wanted to avoid the invasion of Japan via land. As it could take around 250,000 US soldiers' lives because 2.5 million Japanese troops were stationed. According to some historians, the US also wanted to avoid Japan being occupied by the Soviet Union. And so, America dropped the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima, Japan.

So, this is all about the Little boy nuclear bomb that was dropped on August 6 at Hiroshima, Japan, and destroyed almost all the city.

Important Days and Dates in August 2021

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Hiroshima Day 2024: Date, history, significance and observance of 79th year of World War II atomic bombings

Hiroshima day 2024: here's all you need to know about the date, history and significance of the 79th year of world war ii atomic bombings.

The city of Hiroshima in Japan stands as a poignant symbol of peace and resilience and Hiroshima Day every August, commemorates the tragic events of World War II in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, leading to unprecedented destruction and loss of life. On this day, conversations with Hibakusha, who share their personal stories of survival and resilience, provide invaluable insights into the human capacity for endurance and forgiveness while emphasising the importance of remembering history to avoid repeating it.

Every year, August 6 is observed solemnly as Hiroshima Day around the world and this year will be the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city in the final year of World War II.

On this day in 1945, the United States dropped the very first deployed nuclear bomb in the city of Hiroshima, wiping out an estimated 39 percent of the population, most of who were civilians. The Manhattan Project, commissioned by the US, created two atomic bombs where the first one, called 'The Little Boy' was dropped in the city of Hiroshima on August 6 and the moment an American B-29 bomber dropped it on the city, an estimated 90,000 to 140,000 people were killed instantly, while thousands more were hit with generational defects that are plaguing a section of the populace to this day.

As the sun sets on Hiroshima Day, visitors leave with a renewed sense of purpose. The experiences and lessons from Hiroshima inspire a commitment to peace and a determination to advocate for a world free of nuclear weapons. In honoring the past, we carry forward the legacy of Hiroshima, striving to build a future where such tragedies never occur again.

Significance:

Hiroshima Day commemorates the 1945 tragedy which completely destroyed the city and left the country to deal with a dreadful fate even in its aftermath. It reminds the world that all wars are terrible and nuclear warfare even more so while reminding thousands of politicians, diplomats and envoys around the world that diplomacy is the only option to navigate geopolitics in the 21st century because only nine countries in the entire world currently possess more than 13,000 nuclear weapons.

Observance:

A visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is an essential part of the Hiroshima Day experience as it documents the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. Its park is the centerpiece of the day's activities where people gather during a ceremony to honour the victims and pledge to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons, followed by the release of doves and the tolling of the Peace Bell to create a solemn yet hopeful atmosphere, reinforcing the message of peace.

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Hiroshima Day 2024: Sample Essays, Speech Ideas, and Memorable Quotes

As we observe hiroshima day 2024, a time to reflect on the past and advocate for peace, explore compelling essays, impactful speech ideas, and memorable quotes that honor the legacy of hiroshima and inspire a nuclear-free future..

Hiroshima Day, observed on August 6, honors the victims of the atomic bombing and promotes peace.

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From the Editor

August 6, 2021, collected reflections on john hersey's "hiroshima", on the 76th anniversary of the bombing of hiroshima, hersey's book still teaches about humanity and the craft of writing.

By Jacqui Banaszynski

Tagged with

The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945. LitHub.com

One of the ways I remember is with an annual read of John Hersey’s short book “Hiroshima.” It has never been knocked from its place at the top of my list of Things Every Journalist Should Study. Today, to enrich that education, I hunted back through previous Storyboard posts that explore what makes the book endure:

• Journalist and teacher Peter Richmond took a senior seminar with Hersey at Yale. In 2013, he wrote a semi-confessional essay about having to lose his ego to find his writing voice. It includes the six takeaways from Hersey’s class that stayed with him.
• Former Storyboard editor Constance Hale included “Hiroshima” as one of the pieces of writing she has learned most from in her career.
• Mark Kramer, founding director of the Power of Narrative conference, cited a passage from “Hiroshima” in a talk on narrative voice at this year’s virtual gathering.
• Last year, on the 75th anniversary, I reflected on how the teaching power of Hersey’s book grows for me over time, and that every reading offers new insights. I cribbed, with credit, from those who had written about “Hiroshima” before, but also found myself studying how Hersey used individual names to build the humanity and universality of his story.

If you don’t have a well-thumbed copy of your own, it’s time. Or simply Google references to Hersey and “Hiroshima” to read how how others are still using Hersey’s iconiic work to uncover deeper and deeper truths about that horrible reality.

Hiroshima Today

• Alan Taylor
• May 26, 2016

Tomorrow, President Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima, Japan, nearly 71 years since the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city on August 6, 1945. Earlier this month I posted the photo essay Hiroshima: Before and After the Atomic Bombing , which kept mostly to the 1940s. Quite a number of readers expressed interest in seeing present-day Hiroshima as well, and thanks to a few Getty photographers, we can take a look at the modern city and portraits of still-living survivors of the bombing.

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On May 26, 2016, schoolchildren look at an old photograph of the Atomic Bomb Dome before the bombing in Hiroshima, Japan, standing across the river from the still-standing ruins. #

Vehicles travel near Hondori, through downtown Hiroshima on May 26, 2016. #

Emiko Okada, 79, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, poses at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on May 25, 2016. Okada was about 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) from ground zero and suffered severe injuries in the blast in 1945, while her sister died. #

A visitor looks at Kurogane holly trees that were radiated but survived, between Gokoku Shrine and Hiroshima Castle on May 26, 2016. #

A man walks on Inaribashi, in Hiroshima, on May 26, 2016. #

The hands of Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and an anti-nuclear and anti-war activist, as he poses at an office in Hiroshima on May 26, 2016. Tsuboi was on his way to university when the bomb exploded over Hiroshima in a flash of blinding light and intense heat on August 6, 1945. #

A ferry cruises in front of the A-bomb dome in Hiroshima on May 26, 2016. #

A woman pays respects at the arch inside Peace Memorial Park on May 26, 2016, in Hiroshima. #

Park Nam-Joo, 83, an ethnic Korean survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima who suffered from breast and skin cancer after being heavily exposed to radiation following the bombing in 1945, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, on May 25, 2016. An estimated 20,000 Koreans were among the dead in Hiroshima and accounted for more than 10 percent of the total number. #

People travel inside Hiroshima Station on May 26, 2016. #

Shigeaki Mori, a historian and survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, at his home in Hiroshima on May 26, 2016. #

People ride a trolley car in Hiroshima on May 26, 2016. #

A woman replaces the flowers at the ‘Monument in remembering of the Korean victims of A-bomb’ in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park on May 26, 2016. #

Misako Katani, 86, who was exposed to radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at a nursing home in Hiroshima Prefecture on May 26, 2016. Katani, who survived the Hiroshima blast August 6, 1945, was then again exposed to radiation in Nagasaki shortly after that city was bombed on August 9. #

A guide from the survivors group shows an old picture of the Atomic Bomb Dome to middle school students on May 26, 2016. #

Taken April 10, 2016, tourists walk past a deer after being asked to leave the Itsukushima Shrine area, prior to a visit by G7 foreign ministers and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who took a cultural break from their meetings in nearby Hiroshima for a visit to Miyajima Island. #

People walk by Andersen bread shop, which used to be Teikoku Bank, on May 26, 2016, in Hiroshima. #

The A-bomb dome illuminated at dusk on May 26, 2016. #

Keiko Ogura, 78, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, posing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on May 25, 2016. Ogura has devoted her life to keeping alive the memory of the devastating day by sharing her experiences with visitors to the memorial park. #

Schoolchildren take notes and listen to the guide says at the site of the Atomic Bomb Dome on May 26, 2016, in Hiroshima, Japan. #

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