Aug. 02, 2020
Genre: Documentary;History
Description: Seventy-five years after the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, survivors gathered in reduced numbers near the iconic ruins of the Hiroshima Peace Dome to commemorate the tragic event. This year’s anniversary was marked by urgent calls for global nuclear disarmament, even as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic limited attendance. The survivors, now averaging 83 years old, expressed frustration over the continued stockpiling of nuclear weapons worldwide and Japan’s refusal to sign the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty.
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, obliterating the city and killing 140,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, claiming another 70,000 lives. These attacks led to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, ending World War II and decades of Japanese aggression in Asia. However, the aftermath sparked a Cold War arms race and a persistent nuclear standoff among nations.
During the somber commemoration at Hiroshima’s Peace Park, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was confronted by survivors who urged Japan to sign the treaty. Tomoyuki Mimaki, a representative of the survivors’ group Hidankyo, pleaded, “The 75th anniversary is a pivotal moment to change course.” Abe, however, reiterated Japan’s stance, citing a “different approach” while affirming the government’s commitment to nuclear disarmament. Survivors and their families criticized this as hypocrisy, arguing that Japan’s alignment with the United States undermines its moral responsibility to lead global efforts against nuclear proliferation.
Manabu Iwasa, who attended the event to honor his late father, a bombing survivor, expressed his frustration: “Abe’s actions don’t align with his words. Japan must do more to eliminate nuclear weapons, but as individuals, we feel powerless to effect change.” The anniversary served as a poignant reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare and the pressing need for international cooperation to prevent its recurrence.
Cast director: James Erskine
Original name: Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later