Survivors of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing speak out about their experiences as nuclear concerns resurface after eight decades
Survivors of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Speak Out for Nuclear Disarmament
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 left a lasting impact on the survivors, known as hibakusha, and the world. Two bombs, dropped on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people, with many more suffering from radiation-related illnesses in the following years.
One such survivor is Fumiko Doi, now 86, who survived the bombing of Nagasaki due to a delay in the arrival of her train. Doi, who was 6 years old at the time, saw the flash from 5 kilometers away. Her father, a local official, developed radiation symptoms after being mobilized to collect bodies following the bombing. Doi has since written about her experience but kept her status as a survivor hidden due to fear of discrimination. After witnessing the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, she began speaking out against atomic weapons.
Another survivor is Kunihiko Iida, now 83, who was 3 years old when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Iida was 900 meters from the hypocenter and experienced similar radiation effects through elementary school, but gradually regained his health. Iida has since become a volunteer guide at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and has traveled to Paris, London, and Warsaw to speak about nuclear abolition.
Many hibakusha have spent their lives in silence, concealing their experiences due to discrimination and trauma. However, in recent years, more survivors have started speaking publicly about their experiences. This is in part due to the increased awareness and moral urgency brought about by the 2023 Hiroshima G7 summit and the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the grassroots survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo last year.
World leaders are taking various actions to address the concerns of atomic bomb survivors in Japan and promote nuclear disarmament. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged all countries to intensify efforts toward nuclear disarmament, highlighting Japan's role as the only nation devastated by atomic bombings. He has reaffirmed Japan's commitment to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles"—not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons—and called for global leadership to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons.
In addition, voices like Keiko Ogura, a Hiroshima bombing survivor, continue to powerfully convey the human toll and long-term radiation effects of nuclear weapons, calling on future generations and world leaders to avoid repeating the tragedy and to uphold the sanctity of life. Her testimony and others' have been shared broadly to foster awareness and moral urgency.
Beyond Japan's national leadership and survivor advocacy, international organizations and peace groups, such as The Elders chaired by Juan Manuel Santos, provide platforms for such testimonies and calls for urgent nuclear disarmament to the global community. On the global stage, Hiroshima commemorations regularly serve as focal points to remind world leaders of the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons and the need for "real change" to eliminate this threat entirely.
However, challenges remain as geopolitical tensions continue to complicate progress toward nuclear abolition. Visitors to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace museums have surged, with about one-third coming from abroad, following the 2023 Hiroshima G7 summit and last year's Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the grassroots survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo. Roughly 100,000 survivors of the bombings are still alive, and their testimonies serve as a reminder of the urgent need for nuclear disarmament.
One visitor from France, Melanie Gringoire, found a brief encounter with a survivor made the tragedy more real. "It was a powerful experience, and it made me realize the importance of working for nuclear disarmament," she said. As the world continues to grapple with the threat of nuclear weapons, the stories of survivors like Fumiko Doi and Kunihiko Iida serve as a reminder of the human cost of nuclear war and the urgent need for global action to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
- The lasting impact of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 extends beyond Japan, affecting mental-health and general-news discussions worldwide.
- Fumiko Doi, a survivor and advocate, has traveled to various cities like Paris, London, and Warsaw, using her experiences to promote health-and-wellness and peace in the war-and-conflicts context.
- With increasing awareness, survivors like Fumiko Doi, Kunihiko Iida, and Keiko Ogura speak out, using their stories to call for science-based solutions and a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.
- World leaders are responding to the concerns of atomic bomb survivors and are collaborating on policies to ensure the general-news community understands the health risks associated with nuclear war and takes necessary actions towards disarmament.
