Nagasaki Day, observed annually on August 9th, holds a somber significance in global history. It marks the day when the Japanese city of Nagasaki was devastated by an atomic bomb during World War II. This day serves as a reminder of the immense destructive power of nuclear weapons and the need for lasting peace.
Hiroshima, another Japanese city, became the first target of an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945 when ' Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, where 100,000 to 180,000 people out of a population of 350,000 were estimated to have been killed. The destruction caused by the bomb prompted global shock and horror,
Then on this day August 9, 1945,at 11.02 a.m. a second atomic bomb, was dropped on the Japanese port city of Nagasaki.The bomb which used plutonium 239, was dropped by parachute by an American B29 bomber. called the Fat Man.
Unlike Hiroshima, Nagasaki lied in a series of narrow valleys bordered by mountains in the east and the west. The bomb exploded above the ground and directly beneath it was a suburb of schools, factories and private houses. The bomb detonated above the city, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The explosion obliterated large parts of Nagasaki, levelling 6.7 sq km. of the city and instantly killing tens of thousands of people. The intense heat and radiation unleashed by the bomb inflicted severe burns and injuries on survivors.
Among the 270,000 people present when this criminal act occurred were 2,500 labour conscripts from Korea and 350 prisoners-of-war. Nagasaki was completely destroyed. About 73,884 people were killed and 74,909 injured, with the affected survivors suffering the same long-term catastrophic results of radiation and mental trauma as at Hiroshima.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were largely civilian towns, meaning there wasn't a strong military reason to drop the atomic bombs over those particular cities. No one was excluded from the horrors of the atomic bomb, a "destroyer of worlds" burnt hotter than the sun. Some people were vaporised upon impact, while others suffered burns and radiation poisoning that would kill them days, weeks or even months later. Others were crushed by debris, burned by unimaginable heat or suffocated by the lack of oxygen. Many survivors suffered from leukemia and other cancers like thyroid and lung cancer at higher rates than those not exposed to the bombs. Mothers were more likely to lose their children during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Children exposed to radiation were more likely to have learning disabilities and impaired growth.
The day after the attack on Nagasaki, the emperor of Japan overruled the military leaders of Japan and forced them to offer to surrender (almost) unconditionally. On the same dayYosuke Yamahata a Japanese army photographer began photographing the devastation and hibakusha survivors. Over a period of about twelve hours he took around a hundred exposures; by late afternoon, he had taken his final photographs near a first aid station north of the city. In a single day, he had completed the only extensive photographic record of the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of either Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
Yamahata’s photographs were published in the Mainichi Shinbun issue of August 21 and in 1952, his photographs of Nagasaki appeared in the September 29 issue of Life. The same year, they appeared in the book Kiroku-shashin: Genbaku no Nagasaki.
Yamahata became a casualty himself in 1965 and on his 49th birthday and the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima he died of terminal cancer, probably caused by the effects of radiation, received at Nagasaki.
Today his images, still resonate with the truth, and the shocking tragedy of this atrocity.
Hibakusha is a term widely used in Japan, that refers to the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it translates as 'explosion effected Survivor of Light.'. These survivors speak of the deep, unabating grief they felt in the days, months and decades since the attack They have described the shame of being a survivor , many were unable to marry, find jobs, or live any sort of normal life.
They have said that many Hibakusha never speak of the day, instead choosing to suffer in silence. They told what it was like to be suddenly alone in middle age, to lose their parents, spouses, children, and livelihoods in a single instant. In memory of them, we should make sure that the misery and devastation caused by nuclear weapons is never forgotten.
Even if Japan was not fully innocent, the people of Japan did not deserve to pay the price for their nations wrongdoing, and there was absolutely no moral justification in obliterating these two cities and killing its inhabitants in what was clearly a crime against humanity and murder on an epic scale. Hiroshima and Nagasaki held no strategic importance. Japan were an enemy on the brink of failure an members of the country's top leadership were involved in peace negotiations.
Many believe that these two atrocities were a result of geopolitical posturing at its most barbaric, announcing in a catastrophic display of military capability, of inhumane intention showing America's willingness to use doomsday weapons on civilian populations.The bombings serving as warnings and the first act of the Cold War against its imperialist rival Russia. A message to the Russians of the power of destruction and technological military capability that the US had managed to develop.
The bombs dropped were of a indiscriminate and cruel character beyond comparison with weapons and projectiles of the past.But the horrors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima played a significant role in shaping the post-war world order. Efforts to prevent further nuclear devastation culminated in the establishment of organizations such as the United Nations and initiatives to promote disarmament and non-proliferation.
Lets not forget that in our our current dangerous times, many world leaders remain recklessly committed to their nuclear arsenals. There are an estimated 16,000 nuclear weapons in the world at the present time with over 90% held by USA and Russia, but also by the UK, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and lately North Korea. This is more than enough to wipe out most of the human race and most other life.
Nagasaki Day is significant because it serves as a solemn remembrance of the lives lost and the suffering endured by the people of Nagasaki and to honour their memory.. Memorial ceremonies, peace rallies, and artistic expressions pay tribute to the resilience and spirit of the survivors.
In the face of global tensions and the persistent threat of nuclear conflict, Nagasaki Day underscores the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions, dialogue, and disarmament. As the world reflects on the tragic events of August 9, 1945, it is a time to recommit to the pursuit of peace, unity, and the preservation of human lives.
By learning from the past and advocating for a world without nuclear weapons, we honor the memory of the victims and work towards a brighter, safer future for all.
For Nagasaki Day let us echo the call of the Hibakusha, and press our leaders to take the actions necessary to ensure these immoral, illegal weapons are never ever used again.
Robert Oppenheimer -
Now I become death , the destroyer of worlds
Further reading:-
Nagasaki Journey; The Photographs of Yosuke Yamahata.
