Hiroshima Day 2022: On the anniversary of the atomic bombing of two cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hiroshima Day is observed in Japan. This day aims to spread awareness on peace politics so that there are no more World wars and to make people aware of the adverse effects it has on people and places.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hiroshima Day 2022
Hiroshima Day is observed on 6th August annually. It marks the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The primary purpose of keeping this day is to promote peace politics. The United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima’s city on 6th August in 1945; three days later, on 9th August, another nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
The bombing on these two cities made Japan surrender unconditionally, and hence World war II came to an end. This was the first time any country had used a nuclear weapon to wipe out an entire city, and its repercussions were massive. The bombing on these two cities showed the devastating power of atomic weapons to the world.
Hiroshima Day 2022 – History
During World War II, on the 6th of August 1945, the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima’s city in Japan using an American B-29 bomber. The nuclear bomb explosion wiped out almost 90 percent of the city, killing close to 80,000 people instantly. The people who survived this attack were seriously injured. Say another 15,000 people survived with serious injuries.
Despite the bombing on the city of Hiroshima, Japan did not surrender. Hence, after three days, another atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki in Japan. The effect of bombing on these cities was severe, as a result of Emperor of Japan Hirohito announced unconditional surrender in World war II. This announcement was made on the radio on 15th August.
The statement also informed the devastating power of nuclear weapons and the after-effects of the new and most cruel bombing. The radiation had an effect on the people of these two cities for the next generations as well. People of these two cities suffered the after-effects for many years. This bombing showed that it’s a brutal way of ending a war.
Hiroshima City
Hiroshima was a small fishing village. It was founded in 1589 on the banks of the Ota River. During the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Hiroshima’s growth was speedy, and it soon transformed into a significant urban centre and industrial hub. Hiroshima officially became a city in the year 1889. In the imperial era, Hiroshima was a centre of military activities playing significant roles during the Sino – Japanese war, Russo – Japanese war and the two World wars.
Hiroshima is best remembered in history as the first city attacked by a nuclear weapon towards the end of World War II. The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, destroying the entire city. The most affected by the bombing were the civilians of this city. The infrastructure, vegetation and economy of this city all destroyed in a wink. The radiation effect was so detrimental that they could not cultivate anything for many years after the bombing.
Also, people suffered from different kind of diseases for many generations due to radiations. Hibakusha is the Japanese name for the people exposed to radiation. The city of Hiroshima was rebuilt after World war II with the help of the Japanese government. The national government helped the cause through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law passed in 1949.
Aftermath of Hiroshima Bombing
After the bombing of this city, it did not take a longer time for this city to start functioning. The broken water pipes were repaired, and the water supply began four days after the bombing; electricity was restored to the 30 percent of the homes in Hiroshima that escaped the fire damage and all households by the end of November 1945.
The central telephone was destroyed and all the employees killed, yet the essential equipment was retrieved and repaired; by August 14, the experimental lines were back in operation. The Hiroshima branch of the Bank of Japan reopened two days later. It was one of the concrete buildings that survived the bombing.
It offered floor space to other banks in the building to start operations. This city is the best example of human cruelty and human grit. The restoration work would not have been possible for the government alone. It was a combined effort of the civilian and the government to restore the essential services as early as possible.
Anti-Nuclear Day 2022
The International Day against Nuclear Tests is observed on 29th August annually around the globe. The United Nations General Assembly declared the day at the 64th session on 2nd December 2009. There was a resolution 64/35 passed for the same and was adopted unanimously by all the member nations. Anti-Nuclear Day’s goal is to increase awareness about the Nuclear test and explosion; the need to stop them.
This is the only way to achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world. Kazakhstan initiated the resolution and others to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear test site on 29th August in the year 1991. In 2010, all the member nations signed a treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear weapons.
The member nations have committed to achieving peace and security of a nuclear-weapon-free world. So this Hiroshima Day or Anti-Nuclear Day, lets all promise to make all possible efforts to stop the Nuclear tests and work towards achieving a peaceful world for ourselves.
Related Article