Tokyo: On a quiet summer morning in 1945, 13-year-old Terumi Tanaka was reading a book, completely unaware that, in the blink of an eye, a blinding light and searing fire would shatter his world forever. Tanaka, then a first-year junior high student, recalls first hearing the loud roar of a flying bomber when the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, leaving him and countless others traumatized for life.
According to TRTworld.com, despite the passage of 80 years, the United States has never issued an apology for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The official narratives, including those from the United Nations, continue to obscure the culpability, often framing the events as if the bombs had dropped themselves. This linguistic evasion reflects a broader refusal to acknowledge what many experts today argue was not only an act of mass murder but a war crime.
The atomic bombings were never subjected to judicial scrutiny as the US, being the victor of World War II, had a significant influence over post-war trials. A growing body of legal scholarship suggests that these bombings would be considered war crimes under today's legal standards. Experts argue that the bombings prioritized civilian casualties over military objectives, violating principles of international humanitarian law.
Analyses by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) affirm that nuclear weapons would breach these legal principles. Legal scholars argue that these acts defied wartime norms even in 1945, making them retroactively identifiable as war crimes.
Historians have long contested the US narrative that the bombings forced Japan's surrender and saved lives, suggesting instead that Japan was already on the brink of surrender. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which resulted in approximately 250,000 deaths, have been portrayed in American education and media as strategic decisions, often omitting the immense human cost.
The narrative control exercised by the US extends beyond historical events to current geopolitical actions. The US's ability to shape what is considered justice and accountability has provided a shield for actions such as Israel's bombings in Gaza, which continue with impunity.
Racist and dehumanizing attitudes toward the Japanese during World War II played a role in the decision to use atomic bombs, a mindset that echoes in today's conflicts. Waleed Ali Siam, Palestinian Ambassador to Japan, draws parallels between the experiences of the Japanese and Palestinians, describing both as victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Despite the silence from the US regarding past actions, activists and survivors have continued to speak out against nuclear warfare and advocate for disarmament. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), established in 2017, is a testament to these efforts.
Hiroshima serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating human cost of nuclear warfare. As survivors like Tanaka age, there is a risk of the world forgetting the injustices suffered. Hiroshima's choice to focus on remembrance, healing, and diplomacy offers a living message to the world: No more Hiroshima.