Lesser-known facts about Hiroshima & Nagasaki, the twin cities which survived atomic bombings
It has been over 75 years that the twin Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced the most catastrophic event in the history of mankind, aka, the atomic bombings during the Second World War. Although, the cities made through the detrimental nuclear attacks and were later rebuilt, the tremors are still felt so many decades later. Here’s are some lesser-known facts about the twin cities.
The story of double survivors
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by US nuclear weapons on 6th and 9th August 1945 and are said to have killed 129000 and 226000 people respectively. After the bombings in Hiroshima, many of the survivors fled to Nagasaki. However, 3 days later, when Nagasaki too was attacked, many of these prior survivors succumbed. However, official reports suggest that there were about 165 people who survived both the bombings and were thereafter known as ‘double survivors.’
The story of Ginkgo trees
Less than a mile from the explosion sites in Hiroshima, six Japanese trees, popularly called ginkgo trees were in their growing stage. While all of them suffered consequences of the bombings, they survived and even kept growing to become full-grown trees. Since then, the trees have been well-preserved and are even regarded as symbols of hope in Japan.
The visit of Barack Obama
In May 2016, the then American President Barack Obama became the first US President to have set foot in the twin cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki since the attacks in 1945. Obama even visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, in an effort to pay homage to the victims of the nuclear attacks.
Nagasaki’s Symbol of Peace
In 1955, a decade after the attacks, Nagasaki Peace Park was opened in the exact location where the atomic bomb had struck. Inside the park, a 30-tonne statue, now called as the Symbol of Peace was constructed by notable Japanese sculptor Seibo Kitamura. The speciality of the statue is that its right hand points towards the sky, symbolising the danger of nuclear weapons, and its left hand is extended horizontally to symbolise peace.
Shadows of the victims
In both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the forces of the explosions were so severely strong that they left behind shadows of the victims on the pavements. Research later suggested that the excessive heat from the bombings resulted in the formation of the shadows. In fact, some of these shadow markings can still be seen at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
Anti-nuclear attack organisation
Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the two cities that till date continue to vehemently condemn the use of nuclear weapons. In fact, an anti-nuclear weapons global organisation called the Mayor of Peace was established and is presided by the mayor of the city of Hiroshima. The main purpose of this world organisation is to convince various states and cities across the world to abolish and condemn the use of nuclear weapons.