logo
VOX POPULI: Truman never expressed regret for unleashing the A-bomb

VOX POPULI: Truman never expressed regret for unleashing the A-bomb

Asahi Shimbun16-07-2025
A stone monument stands at the Trinity Site where the first detonation of an atomic bomb was conducted in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
On July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert, the United States conducted the first-ever detonation of a nuclear weapon.
With a blinding flash and a searing fireball, humanity entered a new era, having harnessed the terrifying destructive power of the atomic bomb.
The success of the test—code-named 'Trinity'—was quietly conveyed as good news to the leaders of the United States and Britain.
At the time, U.S. President Harry S. Truman and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were in Germany for the Potsdam Conference, the final major meeting of Allied leaders during World War II.
Recalling how he was informed of the news in 'Triumph and Tragedy,' the final volume of his six-part history series 'The Second World War,' Churchill wrote that a senior U.S. official 'laid before me a sheet of paper on which was written, 'Babies satisfactorily born.''
Some scientists warned that using nuclear weapons would mean opening the door to an era of devastation on an unimaginable scale, and urged Truman to proceed with caution. But their appeals failed to sway Truman or other key decision-makers.
According to Churchill, the question of whether to use the atomic bomb to force Japan's surrender was never seriously debated.
'There was unanimous, automatic, unquestioned agreement around our table,' he wrote.
After the war, a U.S. docudrama about the production and use of the bomb asked Truman whether the decision had been morally difficult.
'Hell no, I made it like that,' Truman replied, snapping his fingers.
Just hearing those words is enough to make one tremble with anger.
Even 80 years later, the world remains under the shadow of nuclear terror.
According to estimates by Nagasaki University, the nine nuclear-armed nations now possess a combined total of 12,340 nuclear warheads.
Although the number had been declining since the end of the Cold War, it is once again on the rise.
In a nuclear war, there can be no winners.
Reflecting on the aftermath of total destruction, Albert Einstein once remarked: 'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.'
—The Asahi Shimbun, July 16
* * *
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

U.S. public opinion divided over atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
U.S. public opinion divided over atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Japan Times

time4 hours ago

  • Japan Times

U.S. public opinion divided over atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

U.S. citizens are divided over the August 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II, an opinion poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in the United States shows. Respondents who said the bombings were "justified" accounted for 35%, while 31% said they were "not justified." Those who were "not sure" made up 33%. The survey, released Monday, was conducted on more than 5,000 U.S. adults between June 2 and 8, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings on the city of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and the city of Nagasaki three days later. The share of respondents who answered that the attacks were justified fell sharply from 56% in the previous survey, in 2015, and that of those who said they were not justified also dropped, from 34%. The decreases in both answers were apparently due to the "not sure" option not being available in the 2015 survey. By gender, 51% of the male respondents thought the bombings were justified while the proportion stood at only 20% for female respondents. Older respondents tended to defend the use of the atomic bombs, with the proportion of those age 65 or over who are supportive of the bombings coming to 48%. By contrast, only 27% of those under 30 gave that answer. Meanwhile, 69% of all respondents think that the development of nuclear weapons has made the world "less safe," far exceeding the 10% who answered the opposite. A large majority, at 83%, of all respondents said they "know a lot' or 'a little" about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation
Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation

Japan Today

time5 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Tuesday to hold a plenary meeting of its parliamentary members soon, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists on remaining in office despite calls from among his party to step down following a devastating national election loss. The joint plenary meeting of members of both houses of the Diet is one of the LDP's decision-making bodies. A similar gathering was held on Monday in a less formal setting where many members called on Ishiba, the LDP president, to step down. The upcoming gathering could put further pressure on Ishiba, who has stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum at a time when the nation is facing a host of challenges, including the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. "It all comes down to explaining myself carefully, sincerely and without running away," Ishiba said. LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama told reporters that details, such as the date and agenda of the meeting, have yet to be set. Asked whether a joint plenary meeting has the authority to call for a snap party leadership election, Moriyama said it would involve a "very complex" process. The gathering is designated as a forum to discuss and decide in a majority vote on "particularly important" matters regarding the party's management and Diet affairs, according to the party's rules. In an emergency situation, such as when the head of the LDP resigns during a presidential term, a joint plenary meeting can elect a new party chief, substituting for a party convention. Although the ruling bloc no longer holds a majority in either chamber of parliament, a newly elected LDP president would still have a chance of becoming prime minister as the party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito are the largest force in the more powerful House of Representatives. Some LDP members have been collecting signatures to urge the leadership to hold a formal plenary meeting in their bid to hold Ishiba accountable. On Monday, LDP lawmakers from both houses of parliament held a meeting with party executives to discuss the outcome of the recent election and vent their feelings toward the leadership. It lasted well over four hours. The LDP's internal wrangling is expected to continue at a busy time for the government. An extraordinary Diet session will begin on Friday to select the upper house's new president following the July 20 election, which resulted in the LDP-Komeito bloc losing its majority and smaller opposition parties, including rightwing populist party Sanseito, increasing their presence. Ishiba is scheduled to explain to parliament the details of a trade agreement recently reached between Japan and the United States. The Japanese prime minister will also attend ceremonies to mark the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the end of World War II. By the end of August, the LDP is set to complete an internal review of the upper house election setback. Moriyama, the party's No.2 executive, has hinted at stepping down after the review. © KYODO

American views mixed over use of 1945 atomic bombing on Japan: survey
American views mixed over use of 1945 atomic bombing on Japan: survey

Japan Today

time5 hours ago

  • Japan Today

American views mixed over use of 1945 atomic bombing on Japan: survey

Americans expressed mixed views on whether the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified, a survey by a U.S. research group showed Monday, signaling a possible change in the country's prevailing view that the attacks were necessary to bring a quick end to World War II. The nationwide survey, conducted by Pew Research Center, revealed that 35 percent of American adults think using nuclear weapons in 1945 was justified, while 31 percent thought otherwise. A third said they are not sure. Days before the 80th anniversary of the bombings, the survey found that the gap between those who support the atomic bombings and those who do not has narrowed, particularly because of signs that younger people's perceptions of the attacks have changed. Among those aged 30 to 49, 34 percent believed the bombings were not justified, more than the 29 percent who said they were, while 36 percent reported being unsure. In the 18 to 29 age group, the gap between those opposed to and those supporting the bombs' use widened to 44 percent against 27 percent. In a similar survey carried out by the center a decade ago, 56 percent of Americans justified the use of the bombs. At the time, however, there was no "not sure" option. The latest survey was conducted from June 2 to 8, with a total of 5,044 people responding out of 5,742 sampled. By gender, it showed that 51 percent of men consider the use of the bombs justifiable while 25 percent did not. Among women, the figures were 20 percent and 36 percent. The United States carried out the world's first-ever nuclear attack over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and detonated a second atomic bomb above Nagasaki three days later. Japan surrendered six days after the Nagasaki bombing, bringing an end to World War II. © KYODO

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store