Latest news with #atomicbomb
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: A survivor of the Nagasaki bombing struggles to preserve remains
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) — Decorated with colorful paper cranes and blooming flowers, it doesn't look the scene of a tragedy. On Aug. 9, 1945, U.S. forces detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki. Shiroyama Elementary School was only 500 meters (1,600 feet) west of ground zero. It is thought more than 1,400 people died here, including teachers and children. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and Hiroshima three days earlier, together killed more than 210,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. In Nagasaki, part of the destroyed building known as the Peace Memorial Hall receives around 30,000 visitors each year. At the same time, the number of those who still remember the attack is dwindling. Fumi Takeshita, 80, was just a child, but can still recall her experience. 'I saw an extremely strong light coming in from the window. It was white, or shall I say yellow? So strong that I couldn't keep my eyes open,' she said. 'It was the day after the bomb dropped. (My father) walked through the hypocenter, the Urakami area, and heard many people calling for help. There were heaps of bodies, too. Buildings were crashed to the ground and there was nothing left, apparently. I heard that from my grandmother. She said, 'Fumi-chan, remember the light you saw the other day? Because of that there is nothing left in Urakami, and many people died.'' She now collects items related to the bombing, many of which she has dug from the ground with bare hands. Takeshita believes it's important to preserve the physical evidence of the Nagasaki bombing, known as 'Hibaku remains.' 'Nagasaki hardly has any remains left. I have been raising my voice to be heard in order to protect them, but most of them have been taken down," she said. Currently, 55 sites have been approved as 'Hibaku remains,' including bridges and trees, in the city's annual list. But officials say they also have to consider the city's needs and strike a balance between preservation and development. 'I have lung cancer and was told I might not be able to see the cherry blossoms this year," Takeshita said. "But I managed to. Like myself, hibakushas (atomic bombing survivors) do not have much time left. Preserving things has a strong message. Despite all the testimonies, I believe it is more convincing and can convey, for instance, the heat which melted these objects, let alone humans.' ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
A Survivor of the Nagasaki Bombing Struggles to Preserve Remains
Decorated with colorful paper cranes and blooming flowers, it doesn't look like the scene of a tragedy. On Aug. 9, 1945, US forces detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki. Shiroyama Elementary School was only 500 meters (1,600 feet) west of ground zero. It is thought more than 1,400 people died here, including teachers and children. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and Hiroshima three days earlier, together killed more than 210,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. In Nagasaki, part of the destroyed building known as the Peace Memorial Hall receives around 30,000 visitors each year. At the same time, the number of those who still remember the attack is dwindling. Fumi Takeshita, 80, was just a child, but can still recall her experience. 'I saw an extremely strong light coming in from the window. It was white, or shall I say yellow? So strong that I couldn't keep my eyes open,' she said. 'It was the day after the bomb dropped. (My father) walked through the hypocenter, the Urakami area, and heard many people calling for help. There were heaps of bodies, too. Buildings were crashed to the ground and there was nothing left, apparently. I heard that from my grandmother. She said, 'Fumi-chan, remember the light you saw the other day? Because of that there is nothing left in Urakami, and many people died.'' She now collects items related to the bombing, many of which she has dug from the ground with bare hands. Takeshita believes it's important to preserve the physical evidence of the Nagasaki bombing, known as 'Hibaku remains.' 'Nagasaki hardly has any remains left. I have been raising my voice to be heard in order to protect them, but most of them have been taken down,' she said. Currently, 55 sites have been approved as 'Hibaku remains,' including bridges and trees, in the city's annual list. But officials say they also have to consider the city's needs and strike a balance between preservation and development. 'I have lung cancer and was told I might not be able to see the cherry blossoms this year,' Takeshita said. 'But I managed to. Like myself, hibakushas (atomic bombing survivors) do not have much time left. Preserving things has a strong message. Despite all the testimonies, I believe it is more convincing and can convey, for instance, the heat which melted these objects, let alone humans.'
The Independent
26-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
AP PHOTOS: A survivor of the Nagasaki bombing struggles to preserve remains
Decorated with colorful paper cranes and blooming flowers, it doesn't look the scene of a tragedy. On Aug. 9, 1945, U.S. forces detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki. Shiroyama Elementary School was only 500 meters (1,600 feet) west of ground zero. It is thought more than 1,400 people died here, including teachers and children. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and Hiroshima three days earlier, together killed more than 210,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. In Nagasaki, part of the destroyed building known as the Peace Memorial Hall receives around 30,000 visitors each year. At the same time, the number of those who still remember the attack is dwindling. Fumi Takeshita, 80, was just a child, but can still recall her experience. 'I saw an extremely strong light coming in from the window. It was white, or shall I say yellow? So strong that I couldn't keep my eyes open,' she said. 'It was the day after the bomb dropped. (My father) walked through the hypocenter, the Urakami area, and heard many people calling for help. There were heaps of bodies, too. Buildings were crashed to the ground and there was nothing left, apparently. I heard that from my grandmother. She said, 'Fumi-chan, remember the light you saw the other day? Because of that there is nothing left in Urakami, and many people died.'' She now collects items related to the bombing, many of which she has dug from the ground with bare hands. Takeshita believes it's important to preserve the physical evidence of the Nagasaki bombing, known as 'Hibaku remains.' 'Nagasaki hardly has any remains left. I have been raising my voice to be heard in order to protect them, but most of them have been taken down," she said. Currently, 55 sites have been approved as 'Hibaku remains,' including bridges and trees, in the city's annual list. But officials say they also have to consider the city's needs and strike a balance between preservation and development. 'I have lung cancer and was told I might not be able to see the cherry blossoms this year," Takeshita said. "But I managed to. Like myself, hibakushas (atomic bombing survivors) do not have much time left. Preserving things has a strong message. Despite all the testimonies, I believe it is more convincing and can convey, for instance, the heat which melted these objects, let alone humans.' ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: A survivor of the Nagasaki bombing struggles to preserve remains
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) — Decorated with colorful paper cranes and blooming flowers, it doesn't look the scene of a tragedy. On Aug. 9, 1945, U.S. forces detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki. Shiroyama Elementary School was only 500 meters (1,600 feet) west of ground zero. It is thought more than 1,400 people died here, including teachers and children. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and Hiroshima three days earlier, together killed more than 210,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. In Nagasaki, part of the destroyed building known as the Peace Memorial Hall receives around 30,000 visitors each year. At the same time, the number of those who still remember the attack is dwindling. Fumi Takeshita, 80, was just a child, but can still recall her experience. 'I saw an extremely strong light coming in from the window. It was white, or shall I say yellow? So strong that I couldn't keep my eyes open,' she said. 'It was the day after the bomb dropped. (My father) walked through the hypocenter, the Urakami area, and heard many people calling for help. There were heaps of bodies, too. Buildings were crashed to the ground and there was nothing left, apparently. I heard that from my grandmother. She said, 'Fumi-chan, remember the light you saw the other day? Because of that there is nothing left in Urakami, and many people died.'' She now collects items related to the bombing, many of which she has dug from the ground with bare hands. Takeshita believes it's important to preserve the physical evidence of the Nagasaki bombing, known as 'Hibaku remains.' 'Nagasaki hardly has any remains left. I have been raising my voice to be heard in order to protect them, but most of them have been taken down,' she said. Currently, 55 sites have been approved as 'Hibaku remains,' including bridges and trees, in the city's annual list. But officials say they also have to consider the city's needs and strike a balance between preservation and development. 'I have lung cancer and was told I might not be able to see the cherry blossoms this year,' Takeshita said. 'But I managed to. Like myself, hibakushas (atomic bombing survivors) do not have much time left. Preserving things has a strong message. Despite all the testimonies, I believe it is more convincing and can convey, for instance, the heat which melted these objects, let alone humans.' ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Japan Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Hiroshima opens up stone chamber containing register of A-bomb victims
A register of people who died as a result of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city of Hiroshima was given an airing on Thursday for its upkeep. After offering a silent prayer at 8:15 a.m., the exact time that the atomic bomb was dropped on Aug. 6, 1945, city government officials took the register out of a stone chamber at the cenotaph in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The officials then carefully turned the pages of the register to remove moisture and check for damage. The register consists of 128 books that contain the names of 344,306 people who died on or before Aug. 5 last year, as well as the dates of their death. One of the books is for numerous victims whose names are unknown. The officials also aired out another book containing the names of 13 victims of the atomic bombing of the city of Nagasaki, which took place three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. They are remembered at the memorial monument for the victims in Hiroshima in accordance with their own wishes or those of their family members. As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing, the city government showed the inside of the stone chamber to the media for the first time. "We hope everyone commemorates the victims together and shares the spirit of Hiroshima," a city government official said.
