Trump Invited To Commemoration of Atomic Bombings

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan have invited President Donald Trump to their cities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings that led to the end of World War II.

The Japan Times reported:

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have requested that U.S. President Donald Trump visit the atomic-bombed cities this year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the attacks and the end of World War II.

“We hope that you will listen to the voices of civil society, visit the atomic-bombed cities, listen to the firsthand accounts of the hibakusha and fully grasp the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accept the hibakusha’s earnest desire for peace,” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the new U.S. president.

The mayors emphasized Washington’s key role in reining in the proliferation of nuclear weapons as “tensions continue to worsen” across the globe ahead of the anniversary of the attack on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki three days later.

The U.S. bombings of the two cities killed an estimated 214,000 people, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

Above, the hypocenter monument in Nagasaki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Truman's Decision To Drop The A-Bombs On Japan

Above, the Nagasaki hypocenter monument. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The new Christopher Nolan movie, Oppenheimer, is igniting debate over atomic and nuclear bombs. As well it should. 

This month marks 78 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan.

From the Harry S Truman Library & Museum website:

After President Roosevelt died on April 12th, 1945, it became Harry Truman’s job to decide how to end the war. The thought of invading Japan gave Truman and his advisors pause. The war had shown that the Japanese were fighting for the Emperor who convinced them that it was better to die than surrender. Women and children had been taught how to kill with basic weapons. Japanese kamikaze pilots could turn planes into guided missiles. The cost of invasion, they knew, would be high.

Upon becoming president, Harry Truman learned of the Manhattan Project, a secret scientific effort to create an atomic bomb. After a successful test of the weapon, Truman issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding the unconditional surrender of the Japanese government, warning of “prompt and utter destruction.” Eleven days later, on August 6, 1945, having received no reply, an American bomber called the Enola Gay left the Tinian Island in route toward Japan. In the belly of the bomber was “Little Boy,” an atomic bomb. At 8:15 am Hiroshima time, “Little Boy” was dropped. The result was approximately 80,000 deaths in just the first few minutes. Thousands died later from radiation sickness. On August 9, 1945, another bomber was in route to Japan, only this time they were heading for Nagasaki with “Fat Man,” another atomic bomb. After the first minute of dropping “Fat Man,” 39,000 men, women and children were killed. 25,000 more were injured. Both cities were leveled from the bombs and this, in turn, forced Japan to surrender to the United States. The war was finally over.

Today, historians continue to debate this decision. Was there another way to end the war?

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima in 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been to both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Looking at those cities today, one would never suspect that both were obliterated instantly in 1945. 

5 Reasons To Visit Japan In The Summer

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima during the summer of 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, I was part of G-TOUR, a group tour of Japan by Godzilla fans. It was during the summer of that year.

We did find it hot and humid while on the tour. The coolest (temperature-wise) was while we were on the slopes of Mount Fuji. 

For those who can only travel during the summer months or have a high tolerance to heat and humidity, the following may be your cup of green tea.

Travel Off Path provides five reasons why this summer is the perfect time to visit Japan.

They begin it with:

Japan is famous for its springtime cherry blossoms, colorful autumn days, and crisp snow-capped mountains in the winter, but summer is its best-kept secret.

While most summer travelers picture dreamy beaches and charming European towns for their vacation, there are many benefits to discovering other less popular destinations during this time of year. 

With fewer tourists and better deals to be found, Japan offers some surprising reasons to visit this summer.

 To see what the five reasons are, go here.

The Travel: The Best 10 Things To Do In Japan

Above, photographing Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo is number one on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the Japanese government has announced an extension of their entry ban on foreign visitors to the end of February (it'll likely be extended beyond that and I'd be surprised if it isn't), we have plenty of time to plan a visit when it finally reopens.

The Travel has posted a list of best 10 things to do when visiting Japan. I've already done seven of them and are worth a visit.

They begin with:

Japan is one of the most popular travel destinations in Asia. It is known for being rich in culture and arts, it also houses over 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites including Itsukushima Shrine, Atomic Bomb Dome, Himeji Castle, and many more. Aside from these, the country is also popular for having disciplined citizens, a high commitment to innovation, sparkling neon lights around the streets, and mouthwatering cuisine. To further explore the picturesque land of Japan, listed below are the top things to do in this country.

 To read more, go here.

Hiroshima Marks 76th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, the first of two bombings that led to the end of World War II. 

The anniversary was commemorated today in the city.

The Japan Times reported:

HIROSHIMA – Hiroshima on Friday marked the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing by the United States, with its mayor urging world leaders to shift away from nuclear deterrence to trust-building dialogue.

In the annual ceremony, which was scaled down once again this year amid surging coronavirus infections across Japan, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui called on world leaders to support a U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons that came into effect this January.

After a moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time of the bombing on Aug. 6, 1945, the mayor also highlighted the significance of combining individual efforts, particularly among youth, to encourage nuclear-armed states to change their policies.

 To read the full article, go here.

Lonely Planet: 10 Best Places To Visit In Japan

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, Japan is not taking in any foreign vacationers.

However, this won't last forever (although it seems that way) and tourists will eventually be welcomed in.

In the meantime, here's what Lonely Planet says are the 10 best places to visit in Japan.

They begin their list with:

Japan offers up a real feast for travelers, with mountainside onsen (hot spring) villages, sleepy beach-lined islands and buzzing megacities all on the menu.

You could arguably spend a lifetime sampling the country’s delights, but some towns and sights are staples; core ingredients to any great Japan trip. Ready to tuck in? Here’s our pick of the 10 best places to visit in Japan.

To see what they are, go here. 

Time Out Tokyo: Guide To Hiroshima

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are planning a vacation to Japan and who also plan to venture out of Tokyo, Hiroshima is a place that is worth a visit.

I visited Hiroshima in 2004 with G-TOUR and it was a memorable experience.

A guide to Hiroshima has been posted by Time Out Tokyo and they begin it with:

After the devastating atomic bombing of World War II, Hiroshima has risen again to become a beacon of world peace, and one of Japan’s top tourist destinations 

Take a trip down to southern Honshu and explore the sights and sounds of Hiroshima, an city of historical significance not just in Japan but in the world as well. The city was decimated by one of the only two atomic bombs ever deployed in war, and this historic bombing led to the end of World War II. Today, the city has been completely rebuilt, but the war remnants are preserved as they were to not only remind us all the horrors of war but also promote everlasting world peace. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial was designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1996 and is now a significant landmark of the world. 

A regular stop on the Japan tourist trail, Hiroshima still holds many sights and attractions, with lots of top restaurants and hidden bars dotted throughout the city. Let's not forget about Miyajima either – the sacred island is home to many tame, free-roaming deer and great temples. Planning on a visit? Add this list to your itinerary now.

To read more, go here. 

5 Best Places To See In Japan

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wonder what places in Japan Chinese tourists want to see or consider the best?

An article in China's Business Times may or may not be a clue, but they have posted what they consider to be the "5 Best Places Tourists Need To See In Japan".

They begin with:

Whenever one is thinking of traveling in Asia, Japan will never be out of the list. The country is now turning into one of the most travel destinations in the world, not just because of its cherry blossoms and cold weather but also because of the many tourist spots it holds that travelers can go to. So if you want to know where is the most excellent place to go when in Japan, here are the five best spots you can visit.

To see what they are, to here. 

Graffiti Found At Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nothing is sacred anymore, not even in Japan's Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

Graffiti has been found at three locations within the park.

NHK reported:

Police in Hiroshima, western Japan, are investigating graffiti found at 3 places in the Peace Memorial Park. The park is home to the landmark Atomic Bomb Dome, which was damaged in the 1945 bombing. 

Police said on Tuesday that black, spray-painted markings were found on a bench near the dome, on a fence at the Peace Memorial Museum and on the door of a garbage disposal facility near a monument for the Korean victims of the bombing. 

Security guards found the graffiti on Monday morning. Workers were seen erasing the markings on Tuesday.

To read more, go here. 

Film Shows 1935 Hiroshima

Above, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall before the bomb. 

A film shot in 1935, showing the city of Hiroshima before it was destroyed in August 1945 by the atomic bomb, has been digitalized and posted online.

The Japan Times reported:

HIROSHIMA – The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum released online Wednesday digitally processed 16 mm film footage that shows the central area of Hiroshima about 10 years before the city was devastated by the U.S. atomic bombing. 

The original film is the only footage owned by the museum depicting the area before World War II. 

The footage is “valuable data that clearly shows how Hiroshima looked before being atom-bombed,” said a staff member at the museum. In the closing days of the war, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, on Aug. 6, 1945, and another on the city of Nagasaki three days later.

The film briefly shows the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall before it became the ruin known today as the Atomic Bomb Dome.

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome today from a similar vantage point. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see the film, go here.

Japan Cheapo's Hiroshima Guide

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many foreign visitors to the Kansai region of Japan generally include Hiroshima in their travel itineraries. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum is the biggest draw, but there are other things to see and do while in the city.

Japan Cheapo has posted an article guide of things to see and do in Hiroshima.

It begins with:

Hiroshima is known for one thing, and is on most people’s Japan itinerary—but besides visiting the museums, what can you do there? Our Hiroshima guide will outline all that there is to do, see and eat for a full day of discovery. 

Hiroshima has history, and although it is an important part of the city’s memory and legacy, it is also a place of renewal and beauty. No doubt it will be on your list if you’re traveling in Kansai, and so it should be. But in addition to the memorials to the atrocities of the past, there are plenty of things to enjoy as well as learn from. Only 1 hour and 20 minutes from Osaka by bullet train, Hiroshima is the perfect day trip, and the perfect double-day trip when combined with nearby Miyajima. Allowing for personal preference, it seemed to suit Hiroshima’s legacy to start with the museum and memorial, followed by the beautiful gardens and natural beauty which has re-grown, as it allowed for reflection and consideration.

To read more, go here. 

New App To Show Pre-Bomb Hiroshima Images

Above, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall before it became the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A new smartphone app is being introduced that will show visitors to Hiroshima what the city looked like before and after the atomic bombing in August 1945.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

HIROSHIMA -- City authorities here are planning to release a smartphone app with which tourists can view pictures of the Atomic Bomb Dome and other landmark buildings from before and after the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, it has been announced. 

The move is part of the city of Hiroshima's initiative to promote "Peace Tourism" among foreign travelers, as their numbers are expected to rise following then U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Hiroshima in May last year. The city is planning to bring the smartphone app into operation by Aug. 6 -- the 72nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city.

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in August 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Cheapo: Fastest and Cheapest Ways To Hiroshima From Tokyo

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Have you ever wanted to visit Hiroshima? But you have limited funds and it can be a big expense getting there from Tokyo.

Fortunately, Tokyo Cheapo took a look at all transportation options on getting to Hiroshima from Tokyo and has posted an article with them.

They begin with:

When your friend asks you to go to Hiroshima, at first you’re like “dude, I don’t wanna get radiation,” but after stepping up your knowledge of nuclear physics and realizing that there are actually people living there so it can’t be that bad, you start considering how much there is to do and see. Hiroshima, capital of the Hiroshima prefecture (pretty obvious, huh), and its surroundings have a lot to offer: the Shukkeien garden, the Hiroshima Castle, the Peace Park, Miyajima’s famous floating torii and Okunoshima (‘Bunny Island’) are just some of the must-visits in Japan’s far west. Here’s the problem for Cheapos, though: it’s far, and far means expensive. But that won’t kill our travel buzz, so let’s look at our Tokyo to Hiroshima options.

To read more, go here. 

Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome Completed 100 Years Ago Tomorrow

Above, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall before the atomic blast.

The former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, was completed 100 years ago tomorrow.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

The construction of the building now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima was completed 100 years ago on Sunday. 

Originally called the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall, the dome, instantly recognizable by its exposed metal framework, now symbolizes the tragedy of the atomic bombing for people in Japan and around the world. 

The exhibition hall was completed on April 5, 1915. It was built by the Czech architect Jan Letzel (1880-1925) who designed distinctive Western-style buildings in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

The building was renamed the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall in 1933. It is now part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

Above, the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome in 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Hiroshima Peace Museum Exhibits Getting Face-lift

Above, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum with the Memorial Cenotaph in the foreground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is renewing its displays on the atomic bombing of the city that occurred in August 1945.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

HIROSHIMA -- The city of Hiroshima on May 22 announced plans to renew displays at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to comprehensively showcase the horrors of the U.S. atomic bombing in 1945 from its immediate aftermath to the saga of hibakusha and the sorrows of family members left behind. 

As part of a face-lift now under way, the museum in the city's Naka Ward will boost the number of photos and materials to be displayed and use images by computer graphics and touch panels to help the young generation better understand the tragedy.

One display item was mentioned in the article, which caught my attention. It is the before and after dioramas of Hiroshima.

According to the article:

The museum says it will replace a diorama of the city with a five-meter circular model of the heart of the city before and after the Aug. 6, 1945 atomic bombing. It will visualize aviation photography of the city within a radius of 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter before and after the bombing and project it into the model. Pre-bombing images will include those of ships sailing in the river.

Currently, there are two dioramas that depict Hiroshima. One shows the city as it looked before the bombing and the other shows the city in the aftermath of the bombing. I photographed the two dioramas in 2004 and combined the two photos (below).

To read the full article, go here.

Foreigners Flock To Hiroshima Museum

Above, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima, Japan has announced the attendance figure of foreign visitors in 2013.

The Japan Times reported:

HIROSHIMA – Visits to The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum by foreign tourists hit a record high of 200,086 in 2013, the museum announced Wednesday.

The total number of visits to the museum in 2013 was 1,383,129 — an increase of approximately 100,000 over the previous year.

To read more, go here.

Hiroshima's Atomic Dome To Be Reinforced Against Earthquakes

Above, the Atomic Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima will be reinforced beginning in 2015, the 70th anniversary year of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, to withstand earthquakes.

According to News On Japan:

The Hiroshima municipal government has decided to reinforce the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, to cope with possible strong earthquakes.

To read the full story, go here.

Study Raises A-Bomb Fallout Exposure Risks

Above, a portion of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times has posted an interesting article on the effects of radiation to people who entered the city of Hiroshima immediately following the atomic bombing and those who entered three days later.

The article states:

HIROSHIMA – A study by Hiroshima University researchers has shown that men who entered the city just after the 1945 atomic bombing face a greater chance of dying from cancer than those who came three days later. 

The findings suggest that human health may be impaired by residual radiation from the materials generated by a nuclear detonation, and challenge the view espoused by a state-funded institute that maintains such radiation caused no major difference in cancer risk in people who entered the city right after the bombing.

I've visited both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and found that one would never suspect that either city was once decimated by an atomic bomb. Today, both cities are no more radioactive than any other city in the world. Both are completely safe to visit.

To read the full article, go here.

 

Oliver Stone's "Alternative Perspective" On Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Above, the A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Leave it to director Oliver Stone to skew history to fit in with his leftist politics.

First he did it in JFK, in which he tried to make a hero out of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (played by Kevin Costner) and misstated the facts surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Now he his aiming his sights on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by portraying that the bombings were unnecessary and we could have forced Japan to surrender without them.

According to the Asahi Shimbun's Asia & Japan Watch (AJW):

Last year, Stone produced a TV documentary series, “The Untold History of the United States,” which depicts contemporary U.S. history, ranging from the 1930s to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, from an alternative perspective. 

He wrote the series jointly with Peter Kuznick, 65, associate professor of history at American University. 

The documentary series consists of 10 episodes, one of which is devoted entirely to the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

According to the episode, many officials in the Truman administration were opposed to the idea of dropping nuclear weapons on Japan. The episode also took the position that it was possible to force Japan to surrender without the use of the atomic bomb. Despite the misgivings, the U.S. government used the weapons. 

Revealing the process that led to the decision to drop the bombs, Stone cast doubts on the generally accepted U.S. position that the bombings were necessary to end the war and that they prevented the need to invade mainland Japan with conventional forces and, as a result, saved many lives.

It is interesting that the common catchword for revisionism of history, "alternative perspective," is used in the article. I have no doubt that there may have been some members of the Harry Truman Administration and possibly in the military opposed to using the atomic bomb to end World War II, but if true to form, Stone will likely enlarge those people out of proportion and skew or change facts (and even make up stuff) to revise history to fit with his leftist thesis. Of course, some stupid people will believe the drivel Stone is spewing.

Even back then, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was concerned about revisionism on World War II. He wanted to make sure that everything was well-documented as he said:

“Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”  

It looks like "some bastard" is trying again to revise history in the form of an "alternative perspective" documentary.

To read the full article, go here. 

“Tachiagaru Hiroshima [Rising Hiroshima] 1952” Photo Book To Be Released

Above, a close-up of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new photo book of Hiroshima taken seven years following the atomic bombing is set to be released.

The Japan News (The Yomiuri Shimbun) reports:

About 130 unpublished pictures of people and streets in Hiroshima, taken by two photographers seven years after the atomic bombing, will finally see the light of day after 61 years late this month. 

The pictures, a valuable portrayal of the high and lows of Hiroshima’s reconstruction after the bombing, will be published as a photo book titled “Tachiagaru Hiroshima [Rising Hiroshima] 1952” by Iwanami Shoten, Publishers. Photographer Yonosuke Natori (1910-1962) and Shigeichi Nagano, 88, took the pictures in spring and summer of 1952 for Iwanami Shashin Bunko pocket edition photo book series. 

The photo book includes pictures of things mainly within a two-kilometer radius of Ground Zero, such as Hiroshima Station and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum then under construction. A photo of a market in front of the station, which was developed out of a black market shortly after the end of World War II, shows many people buying food.

This sounds like an interesting book to have, especially for people interested in World War II history and the aftermath.

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in August 2004.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article, go here.