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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Hiroshima nuclear bomb survivors mark 80 years in 'last' milestone for many
The average age of survivors is now 86 and some fear their stories will die with them, while warnings have been issued about the growing support for nuclear weapons Hiroshima yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city, in what was considered the last milestone event for many of the ageing survivors. The average age of the dwindling number of survivors is now 86, and many of those marking the occasion expressed frustration about the growing support for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. The bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people while a second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph: 'There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years. That's why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.' Yesterday around 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions, including Russia and Belarus, attended a ceremony in the city's peace memorial park. A minute's silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8.15am, the time when a US B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Just under 100,000 survivors are still alive, according to recent data from Japan's health ministry, from the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. The names and other personal details of more than 4,940 registered survivors who have died in the past year were added to a registry kept inside the cenotaph, bringing the number of deaths attributed to the Hiroshima bombing to almost 350,000. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. At that time Yoshie Yokoyama was just 16-years-old. Now 96 and a wheelchair user, she visited the park early in the morning with her grandson, and said her parents and grandparents had died as a result of the Hiroshima attack. 'My grandfather died soon after the bombing, while my father and mother both died after developing cancer,' she said. 'My parents-in-law also died, so my husband couldn't see them again when he came back from battlefields after the war. People are still suffering.' Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military buildups and of using nuclear weapons for national security during Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East east, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world 's nuclear warheads. 'These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,' he said. 'They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.' He urged younger generations to recognise that such 'misguided policies' could cause 'utterly inhumane' consequences for their future. While Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment, said: 'We don't have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever. Our biggest challenge now is to change, even just a little, nuclear weapons states that give us the cold shoulder,' the organisation said in its statement. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city's mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor's speech. Hours before the official ceremony, as the sun rose over Hiroshima, survivors and their families started paying tribute to the victims at the park, near the centre of the nuclear blast 80 years ago. Kazuo Miyoshi, a 74-year-old retiree, came to honour his grandfather and two cousins who died in the bombing and prayed that the 'mistake' will never be repeated. 'We do not need nuclear weapons,' Miyoshi said. Near Hiroshima's iconic Atomic Bomb Dome under high security, more than 200 anti-war protesters gathered. Some survivors said they were disappointed by President Donald Trump 's recent remark justifying Washington's attack on Iran in June by comparing it to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the mild response from the Japanese government. 'It's ridiculous,' said Kosei Mito, a 79-year-old former high school teacher who was exposed to radiation while he was still in his mother's womb. 'I don't think we can get rid of nuclear weapons as long as it was justified by the assailant.' In the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV said that he was praying for those who suffered physical, psychological and social effects from the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, adding that the event remains 'a universal warning against the devastation caused by wars and, in particular, by nuclear weapons.'
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
80 years after atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, survivors fear rising nuclear threat
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. Article content With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them. Article content Article content Article content 'There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,' Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph. 'That's why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.' Article content Article content The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending the Second World War and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. Article content Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military buildups and of using nuclear weapons for national security during Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Mideast, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world's nuclear warheads. Article content 'These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,' he said. 'They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.' Article content Article content He urged younger generations to recognize that such 'misguided policies' could cause 'utterly inhumane' consequences for their future. Article content Article content 'We don't have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,' said Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment. Article content Article content About 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions attended the ceremony. A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8:15 a.m., the time when a U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Article content Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city's mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor's speech.
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
80 years after atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, survivors fear rising nuclear threat
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them. 'There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,' Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph. 'That's why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending the Second World War and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military buildups and of using nuclear weapons for national security during Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Mideast, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world's nuclear warheads. 'These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,' he said. 'They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.' He urged younger generations to recognize that such 'misguided policies' could cause 'utterly inhumane' consequences for their future. 'We don't have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,' said Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment. 'Our biggest challenge now is to change, even just a little, nuclear weapons states that give us the cold shoulder,' the organization said in its statement. About 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions attended the ceremony. A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8:15 a.m., the time when a U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city's mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor's speech. Hours before the official ceremony, as the sun rose over Hiroshima, survivors and their families started paying tribute to the victims at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocenter of the nuclear blast 80 years ago. Kazuo Miyoshi, a 74-year-old retiree, came to honor his grandfather and two cousins who died in the bombing and prayed that the 'mistake' will never be repeated. 'We do not need nuclear weapons,' Miyoshi said. 'There is hope,' UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement read by Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, noting Nihon Hidankyo's Nobel Peace Prize and countries' re-commitment to a nuclear free world in 'the Pact for the Future' adopted last year. Guterres stressed the importance to carry forward the survivors' testimony and message of peace and added: 'Remembering the past is about protecting and building peace today and in the future.' Near Hiroshima's iconic Atomic Bomb Dome under high security, more than 200 protesters gathered, holding posters and flags carrying messages such as 'No Nuke, Stop War' and 'Free Gaza! No more genocide' while chanting slogans. Local police said two people were arrested in separate cases, each on suspicion of assaulting a security guard. Wednesday's anniversary comes at a time when possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence is increasingly supported by the international community, including Japan. Some survivors said they were disappointed by President Donald Trump's recent remark justifying Washington's attack on Iran in June by comparing it to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the mild response from the Japanese government. 'It's ridiculous,' said Kosei Mito, a 79-year-old former high school teacher who was exposed to radiation while he was still in his mother's womb. 'I don't think we can get rid of nuclear weapons as long as it was justified by the assailant.' In the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday that he was praying for those who suffered physical, psychological and social effects from the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, adding that the event remains 'a universal warning against the devastation caused by wars and, in particular, by nuclear weapons.' Japan's government has rejected the survivors' request to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or attend its meetings as observers because it is under the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Matsui, the city's mayor, in his speech Wednesday, urged Japan's government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty, a request also made by several groups of survivors in their meeting with Ishiba after the ceremony. Ishiba, in a speech, reiterated his government's pledge to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, but did not mention the treaty and again indicated his government's support for nuclear weapons possession for deterrence. At a news conference later Wednesday, Ishiba justified Japan's reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence, saying Japan, which follows a non-nuclear principle, is surrounded by neighbors that possess nuclear weapons. The stance, he said, does not contradict Japan's pursuit of a nuclear-free world. Past prime ministers have stressed Japan's status as the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks and have said Japan is determined to pursue peace, but survivors say it's a hollow promise. The Japanese government has only paid compensation to war veterans and their families, even though survivors have sought redress for civilian victims. They have also sought acknowledgment by the U.S. government of its responsibility for the civilian deaths. ___ Associated Press video journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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National Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
80 years after atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, survivors fear rising nuclear threat
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. Article content With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them. Article content Article content Article content 'There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,' Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph. 'That's why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.' Article content Article content The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending the Second World War and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. Article content Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military buildups and of using nuclear weapons for national security during Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Mideast, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world's nuclear warheads. Article content 'These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,' he said. 'They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.' Article content Article content He urged younger generations to recognize that such 'misguided policies' could cause 'utterly inhumane' consequences for their future. Article content Article content 'We don't have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,' said Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment. Article content Article content About 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions attended the ceremony. A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8:15 a.m., the time when a U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Article content Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city's mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor's speech. Article content Hours before the official ceremony, as the sun rose over Hiroshima, survivors and their families started paying tribute to the victims at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocenter of the nuclear blast 80 years ago.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hiroshima marks 80th anniversary
Solemn moment: Doves flying over the Peace Memorial Park with the gutted Atomic Bomb Dome in the background at a ceremony in Hiroshima. — Reuters Hiroshima marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many ageing survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them. 'There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,' Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph. 'That's why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.' The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug 15, ending World War II and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military build-ups and using nuclear weapons for national security amid Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Mideast, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world's nuclear warheads. 'These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,' he said. 'They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.' He urged younger generations to recognise that such 'misguided policies' could cause 'utterly inhumane' consequences for their future. 'We don't have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,' said Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment. 'Our biggest challenge now is to change, even just a little, nuclear weapons states that give us the cold shoulder,' the organisation said in its statement. About 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions, including Russia and Belarus, were expected to attend the ceremony. A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8.15am yesterday, the time when a US B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city's mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor's speech. Hours before the official ceremony, as the sun rose over Hiroshima, survivors and their families started paying tribute to the victims at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocentre of the nuclear blast 80 years ago. Kazuo Miyoshi, a 74-year-old retiree, came to honour his grandfather and two cousins who died in the bombing and prayed that the 'mistake' will never be repeated. Outside the park under high security, more than 200 protesters gathered, holding posters and flags carrying messages such as 'No Nuke, Stop War' and 'Free Gaza! No more genocide' while chanting slogans. — AP
