Latest news with #Hirohito
NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
When The US Bombed This Japanese City 12 Hours Before WWII Ended
World War II was hours from ending when the sky over Japan's Kumagaya turned orange. In one corner of the city, a woman gave birth. American bombers approached, their bellies full of napalm. She had no shelter and no time. By dawn, her daughter, Kazumi Yoneda, would be one of the youngest survivors of the last firebombing raid of WWII. That night, August 14, 1945, nearly 90 US B-29 bombers dropped more than 6,000 tonnes of incendiaries on Kumagaya. At least 260 people were killed, thousands injured, and three-quarters of the city turned to ash. All in 12 hours. The war ended with the voice of Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan's surrender. Kazumi Yoneda would later write of her birth in a book of poetry titled 'The Day I Was Born': " The day I was born, flames devoured the city. My mother gave birth, held me close - And stood among The ruins of her home. Her body gave no mother's milk She held her ever-crying child in her arms." Kumagaya, with a population of under 50,000, was not a major industrial centre. It had a small air academy and a modest aircraft parts facility, but many have since questioned the justification for the raid. According to war correspondent Homer Bigart, even some of the bomber crews were uneasy, questioning the necessity of targeting what he called "a pathetically small city of little obvious importance." The aircrews, idle since Nagasaki, were told Kumagaya had rail yards and factories, enough to justify one last raid. They were also told to listen for a code word: 'Utah'. If they heard it, Japan had surrendered, and they could turn back. The code word never came. Pilot Vivian Lock, who flew that night, later wrote, "I have always regretted all the innocent people killed, injured and the loss of home and property." The B-29 crews, he said, kept asking mid-flight: "Have you heard anything yet?" hoping for 'Utah'. Kazue Hojo, 7, ran with her family through the burning streets. A shard of metal tore into her mother's neck. Her baby brother was burned. "It was bright like daytime," she recalled. By morning, the city was flattened. Survivors wept in the streets. "That's my most painful memory of the war," Ms Hojo told CNN. At Sekijoji Temple, a statue of monk Kobodaishi bears a scorched face, rescued by a priest as the temple collapsed. For decades, the statue was hidden until a peace museum asked to show it. Students cried when they saw it. They asked questions. "If people are to learn about peace, they can see the statue," said 79-year-old head priest Tetsuya Okayasu. The Kumagaya raid was part of General Curtis LeMay's incendiary campaign, which had already devastated dozens of Japanese cities, including Tokyo, where a single night of bombing in March 1945 killed more than 1 lakh people.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Japanese Emperor Naruhito meets Mongolian president to boost ties
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito met with Mongolia's president Tuesday during a visit to the landlocked Asian nation that marks a step toward closer relations between the democracies in a region dominated by Russia and China. Naruhito met with President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh following a welcoming ceremony in the capital Ulaanbaatar on the second day of a weeklong visit. Japan has made a priority of boosting trade with the sprawling nation of 3.5 million, whose resources of coal, copper and other minerals are largely exported to China. In the afternoon, he plans to lay flowers at a cenotaph in honor of thousands of Japanese prisoners of World War II who were held under harsh conditions in the country. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Some historians say one of the first battles of the war was a clash in the summer of 1939 between invading Japanese troops and Soviet forces on the Mongolian frontier in which the Japanese were badly defeated. In recent years, Naruhito has toured some of the places where the bloodiest battles and bombings of World War II occurred, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima. The emperor has said it's part of his effort at atonement and remembrance of the tragedy of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. While the vast majority of Japanese prisoners of war were taken to Siberia, around 12,000 to 14,000 ended up in Mongolia, which by war's end was fighting alongside the Russians against Japan. For decades after the war, Mongolia was virtually a Soviet armed camp trained at China, with most of its people pursuing their traditional herding lifestyle. Since throwing off Communist rule in 1989, Mongolia has built a resilient democracy, seeking to balance economic and political pressures from Beijing and Moscow with strong support from the U.S. and its allies in Asia, including Japan and South Korea.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
06-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Japan's Emperor Naruhito marks WWII anniversary with historic trip to Mongolia
Naruhito's visit commemorates the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II. In recent years, he has visited some of the most bloody battlegrounds and bombing sites, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Hiroshima. read more On Sunday, Japan's Emperor Naruhito began a weeklong visit to Mongolia, where he planned to honour hundreds of Japanese prisoners of war who were detained in brutal conditions. Naruhito's visit commemorates the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II. In recent years, he has visited some of the most bloody battlegrounds and bombing sites, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Hiroshima. The emperor has stated that this is part of his commitment to atone for and remember the tragedy of war committed in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the great bulk of Japanese soldiers were sent to Siberia, around 12,000 to 14,000 ended up in Mongolia, where they fought alongside the Soviets against Japan. Most of the POWs were put to hard labor and construction work for the Mongolian government's headquarters, a state university and a theater that are still preserved in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The prisoners toiled under harsh conditions and scarce food. Japanese records show about 1,700 of them died in Mongolia. 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war this year, we should never forget the pain and sorrow of the people,' Naruhito said last week. 'I believe it is important to not forget those who died, deepen understanding of the wartime past and to nurture the peace-loving heart.' Naruhito and Masako were scheduled to meet Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife. The couple will also attend the opening ceremony of Naadam, Mongolia's annual festival that focuses on three traditional games of horseracing, wrestling and archery. Naruhito had previously visited Mongolia as crown prince in 2007.
Hamilton Spectator
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Japan's emperor begins a weeklong visit to Mongolia that will honor POWs
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito began a weeklong visit to Mongolia on Sunday during which he plans to honor thousands of Japanese prisoners of World War II who were held under harsh conditions in the country. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. In recent years, he has toured some of the places where the bloodiest battles and bombings occurred, including Iwo Jima , Okinawa and Hiroshima. The emperor has said it's part of his effort at atonement and remembrance of the tragedy of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. While the vast majority of Japanese soldiers were taken to Siberia, around 12,000 to 14,000 ended up in Mongolia, which was fighting alongside the Soviets against Japan. Most of the POWs were put to hard labor and construction work for the Mongolian government's headquarters, a state university and a theater that are still preserved in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The prisoners toiled under harsh conditions and scarce food. Japanese records show about 1,700 of them died in Mongolia. 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war this year, we should never forget the pain and sorrow of the people,' Naruhito said last week. 'I believe it is important to not forget those who died, deepen understanding of the wartime past and to nurture the peace-loving heart.' Naruhito had previously visited Mongolia as crown prince in 2007. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
06-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Japan's emperor begins a weeklong visit to Mongolia that will honor POWs
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito began a weeklong visit to Mongolia on Sunday during which he plans to honor thousands of Japanese prisoners of World War II who were held under harsh conditions in the country. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. In recent years, he has toured some of the places where the bloodiest battles and bombings occurred, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima. The emperor has said it's part of his effort at atonement and remembrance of the tragedy of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. While the vast majority of Japanese soldiers were taken to Siberia, around 12,000 to 14,000 ended up in Mongolia, which was fighting alongside the Soviets against Japan. Most of the POWs were put to hard labor and construction work for the Mongolian government's headquarters, a state university and a theater that are still preserved in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The prisoners toiled under harsh conditions and scarce food. Japanese records show about 1,700 of them died in Mongolia. 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war this year, we should never forget the pain and sorrow of the people,' Naruhito said last week. 'I believe it is important to not forget those who died, deepen understanding of the wartime past and to nurture the peace-loving heart.'
