By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
JAPAN will this week commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which marked a turning point in World War II.
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 140,000 people.
Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, claiming another 74,000 lives. The unprecedented destruction prompted Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively bringing an end to the global conflict.
While historians continue to debate whether the bombings hastened the end of the war and prevented a larger death toll from a potential ground invasion, such justifications offer little comfort to survivors—known in Japan as hibakusha. Many endured decades of physical and psychological trauma, faced social stigma, and suffered long-term health effects, including increased risks of thyroid cancer and leukemia.
This year’s memorial in Nagasaki will see participation from around 100 countries. Notably, Russia is expected to attend for the first time since the outbreak of its war with Ukraine, marking a significant diplomatic inclusion in the solemn commemoration.
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