Atomic Bombings Kill Over 150,000 in Hiroshima, Nagasaki Survivors Testify

Eighty years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, survivors continue to share harrowing accounts of the devastation and human suffering caused by these events. The Nagasaki bomb, known as “Fat Man,” was dropped on a secondary target after the primary target, Kokura, was obscured by clouds, and it struck near the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, devastating the Urakami suburb. Hiroshima survivor Yoshito Matsushige recalled the intense blast and its horrific aftermath, capturing some of the only photographs from immediately after the explosion. James Cameron is adapting Ghosts of Hiroshima, a book based on extensive research and survivor testimonies, highlighting extraordinary human experiences amid the tragedies, including acts of kindness from a Japanese prison guard toward POWs. The bombings marked the beginning of the nuclear age, and survivors like Takato Michishita emphasize the importance of remembering these horrors to prevent future wars, as nuclear threats remain a global concern. While Kyoto was spared from atomic bombing, it suffered conventional air raids in 1945, causing significant casualties and destruction despite less public awareness due to wartime censorship.