Hiroshima marks 79th anniversary of atomic bombing

Matsui said what no one could disagree with. Especially since hydrogen bombs are enormous in destructive power than the atomic bombs, it seems to be a good time for everyone to cool their heads and keep the bombs from falling. 3 hydrogen bombs would pollute the atmosphere with radiation over the entire world. Using them would, then, also be self-destructive. So let's just not go there.

Peace Memorial Park,

One of the most emotion extracting experiences I've ever had was at the Park.

nuclear threats have been repeatedly made by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, 

Add in thermobaric weapons, yet many cheer on Russia and its invasion. Nice to think dialogue would work when dealing with megalomaniacal leaders like Putin and his ilk.

Nonetheless my hope remains 'jaw jaw not war war'.

Moving forward Let's learn from the past and avoid repeating the same mistakes again. Unfortunately, we keep on building more powerful weapons with no recourse after use.

Russia and Belarus have been barred from the ceremony for three consecutive years over the invasion of Ukraine

It is a good thing that fascist Russia and puppet state Belarus have been barred from attending. With Russias constant, very real, threats to use nuclear weapons on Ukraine, neither are deserving of the honor.

Hats off to Hiroshima.

china, Russia, Iran, Nkorea, the nuclear weapons still in the irresponsible hands, the world still not at peace.

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

keep this in mind.

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

And even with that, they still banned Russia.

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

keep this in mind.

Thank goodness for this comment. For a moment I thought the most strident America-haters wouldn’t post.

If Stalin had developed the bomb first, you sir, would be living - or perhaps not - in your Red Paradise.

And even with that, they still banned Russia.

And boy, does it hurt the Russians on here - as it will in three days when they are also banned from attending the Nagasaki event.

Meanwhile, Japan has an excellent relationship now with America. They are welcome to these ceremonies.

On such sad occasions of reflection and prayer I am reminded of my first visit to Hiroshima in which I was surprised to find a bustling modern city with happy people and delicious food. Bless you Hiroshima and your people.

@PT And the Atlantic Council is lobbying for the Pentagon to plan for the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Mainland China in the event of a Taiwan conflict.

Happy reading! https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/the-role-of-nuclear-weapons-in-a-taiwan-crisis/

"To extinguish the suspicion and doubt that creates conflicts, civil society must foster a circle of trust through exchange and dialogue with consideration for others," Matsui said.

First off this unrealistic airy-fairy rhetoric should be left aside given the perspective now.

Add in thermobaric weapons, yet many cheer on Russia and its invasion. Nice to think dialogue would work when dealing with megalomaniacal leaders like Putin and his ilk.

Exactly. Thermobarics, cluster weapons,the firebombings of Tokyo and the looming threat of autonamous weapons should be addresses.

Using the perspective of the tragic use of nuclear weapons but it is not the be all and end all.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/UC-Berkeley-killer-robots-artificial-intelligence-12368152.php

@PT And the Atlantic Council is lobbying for the Pentagon to plan for the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Mainland China in the event of a Taiwan conflict.

Don’t worry it won’t happen. The US doesn’t need nukes to beat China lol

"To extinguish the suspicion and doubt that creates conflicts, civil society must foster a circle of trust through exchange and dialogue with consideration for others," Matsui said.

First off this unrealistic airy-fairy rhetoric should be left aside given the perspective now.

I believe he is saying it in a sense of don't do to others what was done to you. Both Japan and people who are Jewish have had rough times and pain but at this point Israel is a present day version of what was problematic in the past. The world has a lot more unity than it did 80 years ago it is also easier to understand and communicate so there is no excuse as to why Israel went as far as they did

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

Yes, but the focus must be the future. Can we prevent a next time? Are we more mature now? Sadly when looking at putin action, we can worry.

Eastmann

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

Yes, and despite that we have not used them again despite being involved in numerous conflicts since. In all honesty, if you theoretically had to entrust a single nation with the possession of nuclear weapons, you would seriously choose Russia, China, DPRK, Iran, etc. over the United States?

Hiroshima Zengakuren students and union workers held big successful protests against Mayor Matsui, the decision to invite Israel, and the restrictions on free assembly at the ceremony. They surrounded Hiroshima city hall with a protest yesterday. They rallied again outside the entrance to the ceremony not far from the Atom Bomb Dome.

In all honesty, if you theoretically had to entrust a single nation with the possession of nuclear weapons, you would seriously choose Russia, China, DPRK, Iran, etc. over the United States?

At the moment? With the threat from trump, I will never choose the US maybe Japan, France, Germany, Canada....

Wasabi

...I will never choose the US maybe Japan, France, Germany, Canada....

Fair enough, but those weren't his options...

Wasabi

At the moment? With the threat from trump,...

So did you spend 2017-2021 deep underground in your backyard fallout shelter cowering from the impending nuclear apocalypse courtesy of President Trump? Or did you live through those years just fine like the rest of the world?

Fair enough, but those weren't his options...

not to mention, the threat mentioned isn’t president. Here’s hoping that continues.

Kishida did not utter the name of the United States in his address. Of course he knows who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. His officials just met with the US in the 2 plus 2 talks which promoted "nuclear deterrence".

Kishida did mention one country. Russia. Of course Russia did not drop any bombs on Japan, nuclear nor firebombs. Nevertheless Kishida warned about the "Russia threat". That is music to the ears of the party that dropped bombs on Japan.

The Hiroshima peace ceremony was allegedly about promoting a nuclear free world and honoring the victims. However the actual contents of the speeches, the invitation to Israel, the lack of an invitation to Palestine, the denial of participation to Russia and Belarus made a mockery of all that.

Why does blame matter?

It is a remarkable thing about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace ceremonies that they are designed to avoid any discussion of guilt.

When a monstrous historic crime takes place it would be natural to want to identify the criminal so as to prevent future crimes.

The US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a war crime.

And the criminal is still on the loose using the same methods.

Gaza is also a war crime.

The US funds and arms Israel. The US navy fights with and protects Israel. And the US pretends it cannot control Israel. Everything Israel does is enabled by the US.

Gaza is a US war crime. Above all, the US should not have been invited to Hiroshima.

BellflowerToday 02:58 pm JST

Kishida did not utter the name of the United States in his address.

Because he knows Japan is at fault as well.

BellflowerToday 03:14 pm JST

The US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a war crime.

Please cite the statute in effect at the time that makes it so.

BellflowerToday 03:14 pm JST

And the criminal is still on the loose using the same methods.

Well Russia is on the loose making nuclear threats all of the time, but that is a separate issue.

So many posters here not reflecting on what it might be like to get hit by an atom bomb. They're just posting about other things. Personally, the strength of the good people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will live with me forever.

When assessing a war crime it does not matter who started the war.

Indeed the Japanese militarists who started the Pacific war and committed their own genocidal war crimes in Asia are just as anxious as the United States to cover things up. And so it is natural that they work together and cover things up together.

Kishida represents the same militarists and the LDP is gradually reviving the old militarism only this time under the wing of the US.

The LDP ignores US war crimes in Japan. The US ignores Japan's war crimes in Korea, Vietnam, and China.

Together they happily militarize Japan to prepare a foolish aggression against China, just as foolish as the Japanese militarists who cluelessly gave Roosevelt and the powerful American economy an excuse to go to war against Japan.

The good people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been busy protesting Mayor Matsui and Kishida.

TaiwanIsNotChinaToday  03:16 pm JST

BellflowerToday 03:14 pm JST

The US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a war crime.

I deeply regret the suffering endured by the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Without this devastating bomb, the war could have continued longer, leading to even greater loss of life.

War is a tragic event, and responsibility for it is shared by all involved.

That Hiroshima suffered a heinous attack is without doubt and it is correct to give it a highly prominent commemoration every year. I say this as someone who thinks the fire raids should also be commemorated more prominently.

I read the article and agreed with all of the mayor's comments about the importance of dialogue and rejecting military means, then read the comments above, which do not talk about dialogue and instead pick out countries for blame.

Belarus may have been banned from attending, but a far higher percentage of them, around one in four, died in World War II than Japanese. That's basically multiple members of every family, a huge nationwide trauma that will still echo today.

RIP to all the victims. Can’t wait to be with my (Japanese) grandpa next week (Obon)—he’s a survivor—still living in Hiroshima and still genki.

BellflowerToday 03:45 pm JST

Together they happily militarize Japan to prepare a foolish aggression against China

Still China's aggression against Taiwan, the Phillipines, and to some extent Japan.

And even with that, they still banned Russia.

Israel wasn't invited to the Nagasaki memorial. The IDF has now killed more Palestinians in Gaza than were killed by the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

So did you spend 2017-2021 deep underground in your backyard fallout shelter cowering from the impending nuclear apocalypse courtesy of President Trump? Or did you live through those years just fine like the rest of the world?

First time the world was laughing at your country and at trump-president.

Next time, trump is saying he will be a dictator and you will not have to vote anymore. So yes, the menace is real and not only for the US.

Buy the book "Embracing Defeat "

Wasabi

Yeah, that's what I thought.

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

And even with that, they still banned Russia.

They do as directed by their overlords. As expected.

burgers and beersToday 06:10 pm JST

there is one and only country in the world have used nuclear weapons twice.

And even with that, they still banned Russia.

They do as directed by their overlords. As expected.

Alternatively an expression that annexation and subjugation of countries is beyond the pale.

Fightoo,you have not said anything about Japanese responsibility that led too the bombing

Both Russia and Belarus should have been invited to the Hiroshima ceremony. Russia does not intentionally target civilians (unlike the US and Israel). It is the US that subjugated Ukraine by means of the 2014 coup.

The Hiroshima ceremony blatantly promotes the US war agenda in Ukraine and Gaza while pretending to be simply concerned with praying for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Everyone gets the message of why Israel was invited and not Palestine. Mayor Matsui can doublespeak all he wants about wanting peace in Gaza. The fact is that Matsui and Kishida are backing US policy in the Middle East.

Then some simple minded Japanese people are astounded that students and unionists protest outside the ceremony.

Japanese never accepted responsibility for their actions that led to this bombing,the US did not care about the lives of Japanese,but inflicting maximum pain in Japanese, when you are not in a position to finish a war,you should not start a war

Present Hiroshima "double standard" mayor who also beautifying prewar totalitarianism education, present Japanese PM who justifying "effect" of nuclear armament, it's deteriorated ceremony that disrespect even war survivors' pray for peace.

The greatest sin is that after dropping the bomb and seeing the complete destruction of the ciry

The American's went and did it again three days later

Hopefully no one will ever experience the horror of an atomic bomb again

And as a long term resident of hiroshima, I would like no politicians or demonstrators to attend the ceremony it should be a day to pay respect to the dead

Not a day to push political ideologies

The US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a war crime.

How so?

Caro,the US had 12 more maybe Tokyo was on the final list

""It is our duty as the sole country to have experienced the use of nuclear weapons in war to steadily work toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons,"

Boom! Told you! This is his third time staring such a speech with the same words but refusing to sign a ban on such weapons? Only three times, too, for his predecessor, twice for his, four times for his, one time for his, etc., point being they all say they're against such weapons, but all willingly support them. With how wishy-washy Japan is on war and politics it's really no wonder they have to make such speeches on being nuked and pretending to be victims while supporting the weapons that made Hiroshima and Nagasaki famous, but hey. Logic is not strong point here.

carpslidyAug. 6 10:17 pm JST

The greatest sin is that after dropping the bomb and seeing the complete destruction of the ciry

The American's went and did it again three days later

Hopefully no one will ever experience the horror of an atomic bomb again

Since they had their own nuclear program, the leadership of Japan was questioning whether it was possible to have more than one of the weapon.

BellflowerAug. 6 07:41 pm JST

Both Russia and Belarus should have been invited to the Hiroshima ceremony. Russia does not intentionally target civilians (unlike the US and Israel). It is the US that subjugated Ukraine by means of the 2014 coup.

Ya know, Israel also claims it doesn't target civilians...

The Hiroshima ceremony blatantly promotes the US war agenda in Ukraine and Gaza while pretending to be simply concerned with praying for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

US did not invade Ukraine or Gaza. It is resisting the assault on Ukraine.

Caro,the US had 12 more maybe Tokyo was on the final list

No it wasn’t. Tokyo was never on the list of potential atomic bomb sites.

After entry into force of nuclear weapon ban treaty, recent years Japanese LDP regime repeat to excuse that "Japan become bridging role between nuclear arms countries and no nuclear weapon countries", But they had strongly opposed even Obama's insistence "No first use of nuclear weapons".

The victor always writes history

Hiroshima marked the 79th anniversary on Tuesday of its atomic bombing by the United States

The biggest war crime in world history..

The biggest war crime in world history..

Ive seen this sentiment posted a couple of times here but I haven’t seen one explanation of why it was a war crime. Care to explain?

Ive seen this sentiment posted a couple of times here but I haven’t seen one explanation of why it was a war crime. Care to explain?

At the time of WW2, it was not against the conduct of war to bomb cities with military necessity. Everybody did it. Japan did it to Chinese cities; Germany did it to British and Russian cities; US and Russia did it to German cities; etc. It just so happened that the US developed the biggest bomb first.

＠TaiwanIsNotChina

The Hague Convention on Land Warfare, which the US signed, prohibits attacks on non-combatants, but it seems that even if the US signed the convention, it does not concern the US.

There were many American prisoners of war in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but the US didn't care and blew them away with the atomic bomb. The use of the atomic bomb at the expense of its own citizens is probably unprecedented in the world.

Other examples include the sinking of a hospital ship, the sinking of an evacuation ship carrying students, indiscriminate bombing of urban areas, the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans in internment camps, machine gun fire on Japanese castaways and the abandonment of rescue efforts, and attacks on civilians and Red Cross vehicles with machine gun fire.

During the Normandy landings, many French and German women were mass-raped by US soldiers in France and Germany. Many of these incidents also occurred in Japan, which was under US rule after WWII.

There are many other American war crimes.

Did you think the US military was a righteous army? Too bad!

"I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent" - Mahatma Gandhi