Hiroshima Day: Facts, History and Significance

What is Hiroshima Day?

On 6th August, Hiroshima Day is observed every year to spread awareness of the horrific effects of the atom bomb blasts and to promote peace politics. On this day in 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Japanese city during World War II. The atomic blast was massive and destroyed 90 per cent of the city and killed thousands of people. It killed almost 20,000 soldiers, and 70,000 to 126,000 civilians. Three days later, another city in Japan, Nagasaki was bombed leading to the death of 80,000 people. This was the first time that a nuclear bomb was used in a war other than testing. Since then, no atom bombs or nuclear bombs were used in any war. Hiroshima Day 2022 marks the 77th anniversary of the killings.

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Hiroshima Day: History

• In May 1945, Germany surrendered to the allied forces, and the second world was continued in Asia. The Allied forces continued to fight with imperial Japan.
• The use of the nuclear bomb was the only way to rescue millions of U.S. causality from Japan according to the United States.
• Through the Manhattan project, the United States created two atom bombs. The first atom bomb was known as ‘Little Boy’ and another was named ‘Fat man’.
• Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima and Fat man was dropped on Nagasaki.
• On a fine morning of 6th August 1945, American B-29 dropped ‘Little boy’ on Nagasaki killing thousands of civilians and soldiers.
• After, exactly three days, ‘Fat man’ was dropped on Nagasaki killing another 40,000 people.
• Explanations suggest that it would have led to the killing of more people if Japan was invaded by the Allied forces.
• The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the end of World War II on 15th August.
• In Japan, the survivors of the bombing are known as Hibakusha which means explosion-affected people.
• There is 650000 Hibakusha in Japan that is recognized by the Government.

Hiroshima Day: Significance

Hiroshima Day has a significant role in making people aware of anti-war and anti-nuclear demonstrations in many countries. Hiroshima Day signifies peace in politics and people on this day visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum which archives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.