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Japan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Vault for Hiroshima A-bomb victims shown to media
The vault under the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima was shown to members of the media on Wednesday. The ashes of about 70,000 victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in August 1945 in the closing days of World War II are inside the vault. Of them, those of 812 people are unclaimed, although their names have been identified. With this year marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the city opened the vault for the first time in 10 years so that bereaved relatives will be found for as many remains as possible. Every year, the Hiroshima city government sends the list of ashes to local governments across the country. Last month, for the first time in two years, a bereaved relative of one of the unclaimed victims was found. So far, bereaved relatives have been found for the remains of 1,625 victims. "We hope as many people as possible will know about the existence of the memorial mound and renew their feelings of consolation for the souls of the atomic bomb victims," a city official said. The memorial mound was built in 1955. Unclaimed remains from various places are stored with name tags on shelves inside the vault. The ashes of unknown individuals rest in wooden boxes.
NHK
5 days ago
- General
- NHK
Underground vault at atomic bomb memorial in Hiroshima shown to media
An underground vault at the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound in Hiroshima City, western Japan, has been shown to journalists for the first time in a decade. The mound in the Peace Memorial Park houses the remains of about 70,000 people killed by the atomic bombing of the city on August 6, 1945. They include 812 individuals who have been identified but whose remains have not been claimed by relatives. The underground vault opened on Wednesday has a floor space of 27 square meters. Urns about 10 centimeters high and labeled with individual names are placed on the shelves in an orderly manner. The vault's walls and ceiling were repainted for the first time in 20 years. City officials have been searching for families of those whose remains are in the mound. They have displayed the register of names at the municipal office building and on the city's website, but the discovery of relatives has become rare in recent years. City official Uemoto Shinji says that as this year marks 80 years since the atomic bombing, they are stepping up efforts to find relatives of the 812 people whose remains are unclaimed.
The Journal
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Taoiseach lays wreath at Hiroshima memorial, says the world is more dangerous now than in 1945
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN laid a wreath at the Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims in Hiroshima today. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings at the end of World War II. On the morning of 6 August 1945, most of Hiroshima was destroyed when the US dropped its first atomic bomb directly over the city. Around 70,000 people died instantly and by the year's end a total of 140,000 people had died due to radiation poisoning and other after effects of the bomb. Around 5,000 people per year get added to that list having passed away generally due to radiation related cancers. World War Two destruction after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 1945 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Speaking with reporters after his meeting with Mayor of Hiroshima Kazumi Matsui, the Taoiseach expressed Ireland's strong and long-standing commitment to disarmament and denuclearisation. World is in a 'dangerous place' When asked if he thinks the world is a more dangerous place now that it was in 1945, the Taoiseach replied: 'I think it is. It is in a very dangerous place. I think it speaks to at one level, the incredible engineering ingenuity of humankind, and at another level, the stupidity of humankind, on a very basic level that the world is advancing at an extraordinary rate. 'We are on the cusp of the AI revolution, which would be as profound as the industrial revolution, if not more. This is what people say. And yet mankind keeps on developing the means to destroy itself,' he said. The Taoiseach spoke about being at a recent AI summit in Paris whereby one of the presentations was about the application of AI to warfare, which he said 'would really be on a different level altogether in terms of destruction that could be wreaked on humankind'. 'So it is very problematic and I think very worrying, in terms of where we are today,' he added. Advertisement Hiroshima victims Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is located at the centre of Hiroshima, the mayor told the Taoiseach about the thousands of names that are recorded at the memorial. The Journal / YouTube He said survivors do not want the 'cycle of hatred' against those that perpetrated the attack on the people of Japan to continue. He said the message from Hiroshima is that 'we should not repeat the evil'. 'We must break the cycle,' the Taoiseach agreed. While visiting today the Taoiseach also rang the Peace Bell and visited the the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the A-Bomb Dome, which stands just 160 metres from the hypocentre of the explosion. Aimée-Linh McCartney Aimée-Linh McCartney Speaking about the importance of today's visit, Martin said Ireland and Japan are like-minded, peace-loving countries, stating that there has been a breakdown in the international rules-based system, which the Taoiseach said needs to be restored. Trump's comments on Hiroshima Previous to meeting the Taoiseach today, the mayor of Hiroshima found himself responding to comments from US President Donald Trump. The US president told reporters the US attack on Iran's three nuclear facilities recently were 'essentially the same thing' as the attacks on Japan 80 years ago. 'I wish that President Trump would visit the bombed area to see the reality of the atomic bombing and feel the spirit of Hiroshima, and then make statements,' the mayor said in response this week. A Japanese reporter asked the Taoiseach today what he made of Trump's comments. Martin said that two events were not comparable, in his view. As a student of history, Martin said one has to be careful when looking at contemporary events and applying them to past. 'It doesn't always work,' he said. The Taoiseach told the reported that he doesn't believe that Trump likes war, stating that in his view, the US president's fundamental instinct is to oppose war. Martin said he believes Trump wants peace but said 'sometime it can be very complex to get to peace'. 'But if Iran, for example, was ever to secure a nuclear weapon, then the prospect of proliferation for the nuclear weapons within the Middle East, for example, would grow very significantly, and that's why there's been huge emphasis on preventing Iran from getting a nuclear bomb,' Martin said today. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach Micheál Martin to visit Hiroshima on last day of Japan visit
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will visit the city of Hiroshima on the final day of his visit to Japan. He's due to meet the city's mayor, Kazumi Matsui, and visit the Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb victims. Next August marks the 80th anniversary of the United States dropping a bomb on the city, immediately killing up to 70,000 people, in a bid to end World War II. Tens of thousands more died in the radioactive aftermath of the explosion - in what was the first time an atomic weapon was dropped on a city. Mr Martin will lay a wreath at the Peace Memorial Park, and also meet a survivor of the explosion. He will have a private meeting with Mayor Matsui. The US atomic bomb detonated 600m above Hiroshima, 43 seconds after having been dropped by the warplane Elona Gay, and set-off a fireball that devastated the city.
NHK
26-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Trump teases nuclear talks, angers hibakusha
US strikes on Iran may have laid the groundwork for negotiations, but President Trump's atomic bomb comparisons haven't gone down well in Japan.
