Bombing Of Hiroshima Research Articles

Learning from the Training for the Successors and Storytellers the Legacy of Atomic Bombing in Hiroshima City: Lessons for Disaster Storytellers

Development of a “disaster storyteller (relater)” training program is necessary for sustainable and effective disaster management and tradition. In this paper, we observed a training program of atomic bombing storytellers (relater), who survived the bombing of Hiroshima, and legacy successors, who did not experience it. In addition, we conducted an interview survey of the Hiroshima City Hall administrative staff and eight tellers who completed the course program, as well as an analysis of training log data. The results showed that all interviewees who completed the program evaluated it positively, and many active storytellers completed the training every year. Finally, a standard training program for disaster storytellers was designed and proposed based on survey results.

Creation by Destruction: America and the End of the Pacific War in Light of Economic Reconversion and Post-war Reconstruction

ABSTRACT For several decades, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 have been the subject of a fierce debate between orthodox and ‘revisionist’ historians. In so doing, however, historians have for the most part neglected to look more closely into questions of a primarily economic and organisational nature in investigating the contributing factors to the American decision-making process. Accordingly, this analysis explores systematically how in addition to the predominant need of avoiding further combat casualties, a speedy conclusion of the Pacific conflict was also deemed critical to a successful re-transition of United States war-time production to a thriving peace-time economy, as well as to a comprehensive rehabilitation of the war-shattered European continent.

Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki

Reviewed by: Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki Natalie Berglind Kuzki, Shaw Soul Lanterns; tr. from the Japanese by Emily Balistrieri. Delacorte, 2021 [176p] Library ed. ISBN 9780593174357 $19.99 Trade ed. ISBN 9780593174340 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593174364 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4–6 It’s 1970 in Hiroshima, and though the event happened before her birth, twelve-year-old Nozomi is deeply affected by the atomic bomb American forces dropped on her city on August 6, 1945. Her mother lights a lantern at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Festival, which gets Nozomi thinking about the bombing and how it has affected everyone around her. As a result, the art club at her school chooses to do a “Hiroshima Then and Now” theme for their exhibit, and they interview neighbors, parents, and their art teacher for personal stories to inspire the art of the exhibit, thus uniting the community. Kuzki, a the child of bombing survivors herself, presents an intimate look at the effects of the bomb a generation later, and how such an event has long-lasting impact on the community to which it happened. This English translation of a Japanese novel would benefit any classroom or curriculum discussing the bombing of Hiroshima, particularly any that need materials that present a more personal view of this historical tragedy. An author’s note gives more information about the bombing of Hiroshima and the history of the lantern festival. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Lifetime risk of suicide among survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan.

The long-term physical health effects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well characterised, but the psychological effects remain unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine whether measures of exposure severity, as indirect measures of psychological trauma arising from exposure to the atomic bombings, are associated with suicide mortality among atomic bomb survivors. The Life Span Study is a prospective cohort study of 93 741 Japanese atomic bomb survivors who were located within 10 km of the hypocentre in Hiroshima or Nagasaki at the time of the bombings in 1945, and 26 579 residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who were not in either city at the time of the bombings, matched to survivors on city, sex and age. Measures of exposure severity included: proximity to the hypocentre, type of shielding between the survivor and the blast and self-reported occurrence of acute radiation and thermal injuries. Date of death was obtained from the Japanese National Family Registry system. Cause of death was obtained from death certificates. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox regression models overall and stratified by sex and age. During the 60-year follow-up period (1950-2009), 1150 suicide deaths were recorded among 120 231 participants (23.6 per 100 000 person-years): 510 among 70 092 women (17.2 per 100 000 person-years) and 640 among 50 139 men (33.6 per 100 000 person-years). Overall, there was no association of proximity, type of shielding or the occurrence of acute injuries with suicide mortality. Among those <25 years of age at the time of the bombings, increased suicide risk was observed for survivors outside v. shielded inside any structure (HR: 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.48; interaction p = 0.054) and for those who reported flash burns (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.73; interaction p = 0.025). Sex-stratified analyses indicated that these associations were limited to men. Among women, closer proximity to the hypocentre was associated with a non-significant increase in suicide risk, with a positive association between proximity and suicide risk observed among women <15 years of age (HR: 1.09 per km; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.18; interaction p = 0.067). Proximity to the hypocentre, shielding and acute injury presence do not generally appear to influence suicide mortality among atomic bomb survivors. However, heterogeneity may exist by age and sex, with younger survivors potentially more sensitive to psychological trauma. Coupled with other studies, our results suggest the importance of long-term monitoring of mental health among young populations exposed to catastrophic events or mass trauma.

The Unfinished Atomic Bomb: Shadows and Reflections ed. by David Lowe et al.

Reviewed by: The Unfinished Atomic Bomb: Shadows and Reflections ed. by David Lowe et al. Chad R. Diehl (bio) The Unfinished Atomic Bomb: Shadows and Reflections. Edited by David Lowe, Cassandra Atherton, and Alyson Miller. Lexington Books, Lanham MD, 2018. xviii, 210 pages. $100.00, cloth; $39.99, paper, $38.00, E-book. The collection of scholarly essays in The Unfinished Atomic Bomb, edited by three Australian scholars, shows that the field of atomic-bombing studies is alive and well. By "unfinished," the editors mean two things. One, despite the more than seven decades of academic scholarship that has been [End Page 464] produced about the atomic bombings and their aftermath, there is still much work left to be done. And, two, the word points to how the "experiences, memories, and aftermath, both physical and psychological, of the A-bomb are without end" (p. xvi). The editors gathered a variety of works for this volume, including essays on literature, commemoration, constitutional history, personal biography, and digital humanities. Even though some of the volume's content has appeared elsewhere, it successfully demonstrates the value of continuing to study and write about the bombings, and reminds us of the ongoing trauma for the atomic-bombing survivors (hibakusha). Among the many important chapters in the volume, a couple deserve special attention. Carolyn Stevens's chapter on article 9 of the constitution is one of the best in the book. In it, Stevens provides a compelling look at the history of Japan's current constitution, especially article 9 and its continued significance over the postwar decades and into the present. Stevens links the creation of the so-called Peace Clause to a desire to overcome the devastation of the war and to protect "the individual from the state, as the renunciation of war prevents a prime minister and the Diet from unilaterally declaring war on another nation while protecting the citizenry's right to live in peace" (p. 55). The function of "protecting" citizens from state-enacted violence is perhaps the most enduring and important legacy of article 9. Moreover, the traumatic memory of the atomic bombings, as conveyed by peace-activist groups, has kept article 9 relevant as a reminder of the importance of peace. Interestingly, Stevens posits that article 9 was not a creation of the Allied occupation personnel who wrote the constitution, but instead was originally suggested to General Douglas MacArthur by Prime Minister Shidehara Kijūrō in late 1945. Here, Stevens is in agreement with historians such as Klaus Schlichtmann, whom she cites. Overall, the chapter is engaging, reads smoothly, and is succinct enough to assign in undergraduate surveys and graduate seminars alike. Alyson Miller's chapter looks at the genre of atomic-bombing literature aimed at children, analyzing two storybooks by hibakusha-author Kodama Tatsuharu, Makkuro no obentō (The lunch box) and Shin-chan no sanrinsha (Shin's tricycle). Miller cogently argues that "through vivid and abject depictions of trauma" related to the Hiroshima bombing, the genre serves as an effective form of antinuclear activism. Miller includes a good discussion of how books authored by hibakusha reflect the nature of their trauma. These books, especially those that take the experience of children as their subjects (and often the authors' own experiences), have a "tendency towards short, fragmented narratives" and "focus on ideas about the futility of extreme violence." This makes it, as Miller puts it, "a genre invested in 'cries for sanity and peace'" (p. 69). The honesty of these texts, then, conveys antinuclear messages to their readers. Kodama's books in particular, which Miller skillfully discusses at length, have additional importance for the peace movement because they contextualize two important pieces of [End Page 465] material history, a charred lunchbox and tricycle in the main museum of Hiroshima. Miller's casual comparison of Eleanor Coerr's book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Putnam, 1977) and Kodama's storybooks brings to mind an important issue that deserves addressing. Miller acknowledges that Coerr is not a hibakusha but then goes on to make analytical comparisons between the works of Coerr and Kodama simply because, in Miller's mind, their books belong to the same genre of atomic-bombing literature...

Beyond Civilizational Dilague, Nipponshi: Ruang Lingkup Identitas Nasional Bangsa Indonesia

Japanese culture is highly respected and maintained by its citizens. This study aimed to discuss the existence of Japan between 1944 and 1985 and the national identity of the Japanese people. The study used a non-interactive qualitative approach. This study used a non-interactive qualitative research approach, identified and researched concepts, then analyzed data and information about the history and existence of the Japanese nation including its development globally in the midst of international life. Japan, between 1944 and 1985, had entered a new era after the human tragedy, namely the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since the tragedy, Japan had undergone significant changes, namely better infrastructure. Besides, the Japanese were increasingly realizing that they were actually part of Asia. On this basis, the Japanese were called the Neoppons or the New Japanese. Japan’s unique national identity was reflected in the wa-ism philosophy, which was a concept of harmony between individuals and members of society.

U.S. Public Opinion on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings since 1945

In the 75 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, opinion surveys have indicated a gradual, substantial decline in public approval of these actions. Most of these polls have still...

Long-term consequences of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima

This paper examines long-term consequences of one of the most serious catastrophes ever inflicted on humankind: the atomic bombing that occurred in Hiroshima in 1945. While many victims died immediately or within a few years of the bombing, there were many negative effects on survivors in terms of both health and social/economic aspects that could last many years. Of these two life factors, health and social/economic aspects, the latter has largely been ignored by researchers. We investigate possible long-lasting effects using a new dataset covering the middle and older generations in Hiroshima some 60 years after the tragedy. Our empirical results show that Atomic Bomb Survivors did not necessarily suffer unfavorable life experiences in terms of the average marriage status or educational attainment but did experience significant disadvantages some aspects including the husband/wife combination of married couples, work status, mental health, and expectations for the future. Thus, survivors have suffered for many years after the catastrophe itself.

2012: An elemental force: Uranium production in Africa, and what it means to be nuclear

ABSTRACT Uranium from Africa was, and remains, a major source of fuel for atomic weapons and power plants throughout the world. Uranium for the Hiroshima bomb, for example, came from the Belgian Congo. During any given year of the Cold War, between 20 percent and 50 percent of the Western world’s uranium came from African places: Congo, Niger, South Africa, Gabon, Madagascar, and Namibia. Today, there is a renewed uranium boom throughout the continent. The author writes on the ambiguities of the nuclear state, and the state of being nuclear, and why the nuclear designation matters. She looks at two countries to uncover different dimensions of nuclearity: Niger, which has long struggled with France over the price of its uranium; and Gabon, where cancer and other illnesses related to four decades of uranium production remain invisible.

At the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation continues studies of the atomic bomb survivors and their children.

This commentary discusses the work of the Radiation Effects Research Foundation created in response to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The development of the Foundation is discussed along with the impact of the research the Foundation has conducted since its creation.

“Tongues of Fire”: Hiroshima as Hell and a New Pentecost?

Recalling the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 2020, and Nagasaki three days later, this article seeks to “say something theological” about these horrific attacks. With help from Bernard Lonergan and works such as Richard Rhodes’s The Making of the Atomic Bomb, I ask whether the name that J. Robert Oppenheimer gave to the testing of the bomb—“Trinity”—can fittingly name the bombings themselves. Given the grave challenges of this anniversary year, I propose especially that Hiroshima’s terrifying “tongues of fire” signals a “new Pentecost,” calling diverse peoples to form vibrant new communities of charity and grace.

Cutaneous Radiation Injuries: Models, Assessment and Treatments.

Many cases of human exposures to high-dose radiation have been documented, including individuals exposed during the detonation of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear power plant disasters (e.g., Chernobyl), as well as industrial and medical accidents. For many of these exposures, injuries to the skin have been present and have played a significant role in the progression of the injuries and survivability from the radiation exposure. There are also instances of radiation-induced skin complications in routine clinical radiotherapy and radiation diagnostic imaging procedures. In response to the threat of a radiological or nuclear mass casualty incident, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tasked the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with identifying and funding early- to mid-stage medical countermeasure (MCM) development to treat radiation-induced injuries, including those to the skin. To appropriately assess the severity of radiation-induced skin injuries and determine efficacy of different approaches to mitigate/treat them, it is necessary to develop animal models that appropriately simulate what is seen in humans who have been exposed. In addition, it is important to understand the techniques that are used in other clinical indications (e.g., thermal burns, diabetic ulcers, etc.) to accurately assess the extent of skin injury and progression of healing. For these reasons, the NIAID partnered with two other U.S. Government funding and regulatory agencies, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to identify state-of-the-art methods in assessment of skin injuries, explore animal models to better understand radiation-induced cutaneous damage and investigate treatment approaches. A two-day workshop was convened in May 2019 highlighting talks from 28 subject matter experts across five scientific sessions. This report provides an overview of information that was presented and the subsequent guided discussions.

Cutaneous Radiation Injuries: Models, Assessment and Treatments.

Many cases of human exposures to high-dose radiation have been documented, including individuals exposed during the detonation of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear power plant disasters (e.g., Chernobyl), as well as industrial and medical accidents. For many of these exposures, injuries to the skin have been present and have played a significant role in the progression of the injuries and survivability from the radiation exposure. There are also instances of radiation-induced skin complications in routine clinical radiotherapy and radiation diagnostic imaging procedures. In response to the threat of a radiological or nuclear mass casualty incident, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tasked the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with identifying and funding early- to mid-stage medical countermeasure (MCM) development to treat radiation-induced injuries, including those to the skin. To appropriately assess the severity of radiation-induced skin injuries and determine efficacy of different approaches to mitigate/treat them, it is necessary to develop animal models that appropriately simulate what is seen in humans who have been exposed. In addition, it is important to understand the techniques that are used in other clinical indications (e.g., thermal burns, diabetic ulcers, etc.) to accurately assess the extent of skin injury and progression of healing. For these reasons, the NIAID partnered with two other U.S. Government funding and regulatory agencies, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to identify state-of-the-art methods in assessment of skin injuries, explore animal models to better understand radiation-induced cutaneous damage and investigate treatment approaches. A two-day workshop was convened in May 2019 highlighting talks from 28 subject matter experts across five scientific sessions. This report provides an overview of information that was presented and the subsequent guided discussions.

Why the atomic bombing of Hiroshima would be illegal today

ABSTRACT The archival record makes clear that killing large numbers of civilians was the primary purpose of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima; destruction of military targets and war industry was a secondary goal and one that “legitimized” the intentional destruction of a city in the minds of some participants. The atomic bomb was detonated over the center of Hiroshima. More than 70,000 men, women, and children were killed immediately; the munitions factories on the periphery of the city were left largely unscathed. Such a nuclear attack would be illegal today. It would violate three major requirements of the law of armed conflict codified in Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions: the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. There could be great pressure to use nuclear weapons in future scenarios in which many American soldiers’ lives are at risk and there is no guarantee that a future US president would follow the law of armed conflict. That is why the United States needs senior military officers who fully understand the law and demand compliance and presidents who care about law and justice in war.

Reflecting on Hiroshima/Nagasaki at 75

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages around the world, I sit pondering what we have, and have not, learned in the seventy-five years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the media exho...

Waking Up Generation Z

As we move further away from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, their impact and legacy becomes a distant memory, losing importance, especially with youth (for this essay, youth is defi...

From Ending the War to Permanent War

Decades after the end of World War II, the world has yet to grasp the full meaning of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain surprisingly understudied in the s...

The Nuclear Age Persists after 75 Years

KRIEGER: This year marks the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombs that destroyed those two cities were the only ones in existence at the tim...

Radiation exposure and health effects of the residents around the former Soviet Union nuclear test site in Kazakhstan -A new perspective: radioactive microparticles

Harnessing atomic particles and radiation led to powerful and world changing technologies. The field of medical imaging has saved countless lives and continues to push the boundaries of medical interventions and research, which would have been impossible without the first x-ray machines. Unfortunately, not all inventions have been so altruistic. The advent of nuclear weapons showed the world the destructive potential possible via scientific inquiry. While the dangerous effects of radiation exposure were documented from the inception of this technology, catastrophic events like the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuclear disasters at Chernobyl Semipalatinsk or Fukushima provide a real-time glimpse into the long-term effects of exposure. Investigating the causes of this exposure in order to prevent future accidents is essential, but so too is cataloguing the rates and types of exposure among the victims. With this information correlations between exposure and health effects, both short- and long-term can be interrogated. This data is crucial for the understanding of the mechanisms behind radiations effects on living creatures and in assessing risks, safety protocols and treatment. Dr Masaharu Hoshi, Professor Emeritus at the Hiroshima University, has spent most of his career travelling around the world, visiting the sites of nuclear disasters in an effort to fully comprehend the risks. He is now using case studies to investigate the radiation exposure and health effects of the residents of radioactive microparticles.

Lessons from A-bomb survivors: Researching Hiroshima & Nagasaki survivors’ perspectives for use in U.S. social studies classrooms

As world leaders strengthen their nuclear arsenals, and fears of global nuclear proliferation increase, social studies teachers must be prepared to help learners investigate the devastating consequences on human life and property associated with their use. This manuscript presents an ethnological study of six atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Participants completed a qualitative questionnaire describing their experiences during World War II, and making recommendations to U.S. social studies teachers when teaching about the dropping of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Data was analyzed to identify patterns and themes, and two categories emerged related to our research question. Findings suggest participants support U.S. teachers imparting global perspectives that speak directly to the destructive power of the atomic bomb and its impact on humans and the environment for years to come. This includes a movement away from using the social studies curriculum to point fingers of historic blame in the use of atomic weapons, and towards empowering learners to become agents of change in actualizing a nuclear free and peaceful world. We discuss the implications of this study’s findings in social studies and global education.