Article text:
Japan's reaction to remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding recent military actions in Iran has been one of unequivocal outrage. During a press conference, Trump stated, "That hit ended the war. I don't want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don't want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing," drawing a parallel between US strikes on Iran and the bombings that obliterated the two Japanese cities in August 1945.
The atomic bombings resulted in approximately 140,000 deaths and left lasting psychological and health ramifications for survivors, known as hibakusha. Following Trump's comments, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki expressed deep concern, stating, "If Trump's comments justify the dropping of the atomic bomb, it is extremely regrettable for us as a city that was bombed."
Members of the survivors' advocacy group Nihon Hidankyo were similarly vexed, with co-chair Mimaki Toshiyuki deeming Trump's assertions "unacceptable." Another survivor, Teruko Yokoyama, articulated her disappointment and anger in a Kyodo News report.
The emotional backlash culminated in protests in Hiroshima, where survivors demanded a retraction of Trump's statement. Lawmakers in the city quickly passed a resolution denouncing any perceptions that would justify the use of atomic bombs and stressed the importance of resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
As questions arose regarding whether Japan would formally protest the president's remarks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa reminded that Japan has consistently communicated its stance on atomic warfare to the United States. Trump made his remarks while defending the efficacy of US military strikes against Iran, claiming they had significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions—assertions that were contested in a recent leaked intelligence report.
Hiroshima is home to a peace flame, symbolizing the nation’s opposition to nuclear weapons, and a museum features a clock that tracks the days since the last nuclear attack on the planet. The remembrance of these tragic events continues to resonate deeply within Japan, a nation uniquely affected by nuclear warfare.
Japan's reaction to remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding recent military actions in Iran has been one of unequivocal outrage. During a press conference, Trump stated, "That hit ended the war. I don't want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don't want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing," drawing a parallel between US strikes on Iran and the bombings that obliterated the two Japanese cities in August 1945.
The atomic bombings resulted in approximately 140,000 deaths and left lasting psychological and health ramifications for survivors, known as hibakusha. Following Trump's comments, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki expressed deep concern, stating, "If Trump's comments justify the dropping of the atomic bomb, it is extremely regrettable for us as a city that was bombed."
Members of the survivors' advocacy group Nihon Hidankyo were similarly vexed, with co-chair Mimaki Toshiyuki deeming Trump's assertions "unacceptable." Another survivor, Teruko Yokoyama, articulated her disappointment and anger in a Kyodo News report.
The emotional backlash culminated in protests in Hiroshima, where survivors demanded a retraction of Trump's statement. Lawmakers in the city quickly passed a resolution denouncing any perceptions that would justify the use of atomic bombs and stressed the importance of resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
As questions arose regarding whether Japan would formally protest the president's remarks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa reminded that Japan has consistently communicated its stance on atomic warfare to the United States. Trump made his remarks while defending the efficacy of US military strikes against Iran, claiming they had significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions—assertions that were contested in a recent leaked intelligence report.
Hiroshima is home to a peace flame, symbolizing the nation’s opposition to nuclear weapons, and a museum features a clock that tracks the days since the last nuclear attack on the planet. The remembrance of these tragic events continues to resonate deeply within Japan, a nation uniquely affected by nuclear warfare.
