2025年 08月 06日
Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Day
Every year on the anniversary of the end of the war, Japanese people and the mass media alike issue messages reflecting on war and peace.
This is a good thing.
However, (though it's only mentioned in a few lines in Japanese textbooks) Japan was originally the perpetrator.
(Even this historical account is now being rewritten one after another by Japan's far-right forces, including the Japanese government.)
It's certainly safe to focus only on the damage done to our own country, but criticizing Japan's far-right forces would likely be met with attacks from across Japan.
This is a good thing.
It's true that the use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable and they should be completely abolished.
However, (though it's only mentioned in a few lines in Japanese textbooks) Japan was originally the perpetrator.
The Japanese government and military invaded China and killed countless Chinese.
(Even this historical account is now being rewritten one after another by Japan's far-right forces, including the Japanese government.)
Rather than lamenting only the damage done to our own country, we should be questioning the Japanese government, which is currently preparing for war, and the far-right political parties that advocate nuclear armament.
It's certainly safe to focus only on the damage done to our own country, but criticizing Japan's far-right forces would likely be met with attacks from across Japan.
However, every time the anniversary of defeat comes around, we are always frustrated by the "absence of the perpetrator's perspective."
The pain, sorrow and cruelty of all those killed in the Hiroshima atomic bombing, those killed in air raids, those in China killed by the Japanese, and those currently being killed in Ukraine and GAZA are all the same.
"Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park" (from "Zashikiro")
Prime Minister Ishiba did not deny the possibility of nuclear weapons. (Akahata, August 6, 2025)
by kiyubaru2020
| 2025-08-06 11:28
| Japan now
