Japan marks anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bomb

Tue Aug 5, 2008 10:51pm EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tens of thousands bowed their heads at a ceremony in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Wednesday, the 63rd anniversary of the world's first atomic attack, as the city's mayor hit out at countries that refuse to abandon their bombs.

A bell tolled at 8:15 a.m. to mark the exact moment when the bomb dubbed "Little Boy" was dropped on the city, killing tens of thousands immediately and many more later from radiation sickness.

"We who seek the abolition of nuclear weapons are the majority," mayor Tadatoshi Akiba said in a speech at the Peace Memorial Park, attended by the ambassador of nuclear-armed China, as well as Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and elderly survivors of the attack.

"Last year 170 countries voted in favor of Japan's U.N. resolution calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Only three countries, the United States among them, opposed this resolution," he said.

The United States and other world powers fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran says its atomic program is for power generation. Washington and others have warned of more sanctions against Tehran, which they accuse of playing for time in the dispute.

The mayor of Hiroshima also vowed to do more to help survivors still suffering the physical and mental after-effects of the 1945 attack by the United States in the final days of World War Two, which was followed a few days later by a nuclear attack on the southern Japanese city of Nagasaki.

The average age of survivors is over 75 and Akiba said he would launch a survey into the emotional damage they suffered.

Fukuda echoed some of Akiba's sentiments, saying he wanted to take a lead in the campaign against nuclear weapons and try to help as many as possible of those dealing with poor health after being exposed to radiation.

"We must not repeat such a sad event," one mother attending the ceremony told broadcaster NHK. "We need to pass that message on to our children's generation."

(Reporting by Isabel Reynolds; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUST27129520080806?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

On my only trip to Japan, I had the great opportunity to visit Hiroshima in general and Atomic Park in particular. That was on of the days I will remember for the rest of my life.

One of the many things that stands out in my mind is in the museum there is a pillar in a room with before and after 3D maps of Hiroshima. On that pillar are copies of letters written from various mayors of Hiroshima to world leaders after every single instance of nuclear bravado, be it testing or otherwise.

This was the first stop on my WWII tour...my second was the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, HI. I feel that I have a unique view on the war, having visited the sights of it's bookend events on both sides of the conflict.

I've been there too, and wow, what a weird feeling I got when I was there. In the museum, did you see the mangled watch that stopped exactly at the same time as when the bomb blew up? I thought that was crazy. I wasn't supposed to take pictures in there, but at the time, I didn't know, so I have pictures from inside the museum.

Like others who have visited Japan I have been to the memorial in Hiroshima. Unfortunately I never got a chance to visit Nagasaki.

A tragedy that did not need to happen.

Yeah, I bet the US, Israel, and probably a european country has nuclear weapons and are making bull$hit excuses to not get rid of their nukes. US gov is such a hypocritical country. I can't wait till uncle same falls flat on her a$$ with an upcoming $hitty economy.

The reason the US dosen't get rid of all there nuclear weapons, is the fact that "TERRORISTS, or whatever you want to call these Psychotic Weirdos will get/create nuclear weapons no matter what! That's why we don't take peoples weapons away here in the usa, if we did gangster/criminals would still get them.. It's the same situation, I know some gangsters, and guess what , yes sir, you can't stop them from getting guns!!


The bombing of Hiroshima was a tragedy, but look at what Japan did to us!! They sent little friendship medals to us, the day before they bombed pearl Harbor!! Then attacked America!! What do you think Japan's strategy was, dir, it was too take over America!! What do you think happens when you mess with the USA. Who saved the world from Hitler?? Who always comes in to save the world?? hmmm. Well, it's not the Japanese!! They have always have tried to conquer the world.. Tell me what the freak do you want we the whole world!! And honoring people who've died for evil, is hard to forgive!! How can you honor a person who tried to kill off people, because they don't look the same as you!! I don't necessarilly like most black people, but I treat them the same as everyone else and I don't go off killing them!!! GOOD > EVIL .. LOVE > HATE
We love people, all of god's people!! And we do FORGIVE, YES FORGIVE Japan for what they've done.. America has never tried to take over the world!! NEVER!! And we never WILL, Unless Psycho's take over our country, like what happened to Germany, Japan, and Italy in the 1940's..

Plus the Hiroshima bombing was planned by a whacko scientist who wanted to experiment with the bombs, the american people had little to do with this.. We don't take joy for destroying life!! Instead of dropping the bombs on the Military sites, he wanted to drop the bombs on these locations, for experimental research.. That's pretty whack!! And he also didn't want to destroy ancient artifacts in the military places, but I guess , he was ok with killing civilians in Hiroshima.. That's SICK!! But let me say this, Don't expect Mercy, when you plot to wipe America away!! But, yes killing civilians in war is wrong, but don't tell me Japan has never done that..lol..

In closing, my generation dosen't think much about the grudges held by our fathers.. We still remember the event that occured, and the people who died defending our nation. But, we forgive Japan, and the Japanese friends I know, Forgive us. You can either live with a grudge the rest of your life, or learn from your mistakes, do good and move on!! Because this life is too short for hate, and there is only room to spread love!! And that's the greatest truth I can give!! So honoring evil men, and lifting them high, and walking in your evil ways and trying that $hit again, will eventually lead to no mercy!! Because people that keep choosing evil, will never be trusted.. And you might find you country gone!! For real , I mean, if you look at history, Any evil country would destroy your country and kill you all!! We took hold over you for awhile, and once we saw you had changed we let you live!! And you can't tell me Japan and Germany aren't better off than before in many ways.. So, just let the hatred go!! We love you Japanese!! Heck, I usually make friends easier with japanese people than I do my own race..lol.. so,
peace out, and god bless .. :-)

getting rid of nuclear weapons is the height of foolishness.

Imagine what would have happened if it was the Japanese who bombed the US.

Perhaps they should tell their children about Unit 731 as well.

You are right. It was easy to avoid.

Stay away from Pearl Harbor.

Problem solved.

I reckon Japan would have had its surface blasted to radioactive glass.

Don't start a war you can't finish, Tojo.

Tell that to Bush. Tojo's dead.

Imagine reading this from a WWII history book: The Sea of Japan is where an island country called Japan used to exist. LOL.

People will feel sympathy once the japanese people and government sympathize with the victims of their past aggressions.

I don't get it.

LOL, yeah he sure is, isn't he?

Japan should mark the anniversary of the invasion of Korea or the Nanking massacre instead of victimizing itself.

That's probably an excerpt from a WW III history book.

fu-k Japan.

They don't give a $hit to all those tens of millions of massacred Chinese, Koreans, Philipinos, Laos, Thais, etc., why should we give a $hit to those Japanese who perished in those two bombings. The Japanese had it coming.

Yet even today they still visited their war shrine that honors these killers

Untill they take guilt for their past aggressions- I will mentally mark their anniversary by dropping another A-bomb.

closed
look @ all these trolls