80th Hiroshima Survivors Urge Nuclear Abolition Amid Rising Threats

Eighty years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many of the surviving hibakusha are increasingly vocal about their frustration over the renewed global threats posed by nuclear weapons and the growing acceptance of their use by world leaders. Survivors like Kunihiko Iida have spent decades battling the physical and psychological effects of radiation exposure and now dedicate their retirement years to sharing their stories, aiming to raise awareness and advocate for nuclear disarmament. Hiroshima's mayor and other leaders warn that the ongoing military buildups and nuclear rhetoric, especially amid conflicts like Russia's war in Ukraine and tensions in East Asia, undermine the peace frameworks established post-World War II. Despite survivor appeals, Japan's government has refrained from joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons due to its reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, a stance that contrasts with the public's lingering opposition to nuclear armament rooted in the trauma of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The debate about Japan potentially developing its own nuclear arsenal is resurfacing, spurred by regional security threats and changing geopolitical dynamics, although historical pacifist principles still influence national sentiment. These developments highlight a growing tension between the pursuit of national security and the urgent call from survivors and peace advocates to prevent the normalization and proliferation of nuclear weapons.