Nagasaki Day 2023: On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped the second nuclear bomb, ‘Fat Man,’ on the Nagasaki region of Japan, shortly after three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. Since then, Nagasaki Day, popularly known as the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony, has been celebrated annually on August 9. The day commemorates the horrific atomic bombing of the United States during World War II.
Nagasaki Day: Impact of the bombing
Nagasaki, which translates as Long Cape Town, is the capital and largest city of the island of Kyushu in Japan. And the atomic bombing shook the people of Japan physically, emotionally, and financially, further leading to the surrender and end of World War II. According to the History Channel report, “However, the devastation of Hiroshima failed to provoke an immediate Japanese surrender, and on August 9, Major Charles Sweeney flew another B-29 bomber, Bockscar, from Tinian. Thick clouds over the primary target, the city of Kokura, led Sweeney to a secondary target, Nagasaki, where he dropped the “Fat Man” plutonium bomb on himself at 11:02 that morning. More powerful than the one used in Hiroshima, the bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds and was built to produce a 22-kiloton explosion. The topography of Nagasaki, which was nestled in narrow valleys between mountains, reduced the effect of the bomb, limiting the destruction to 2.6 square miles.”
The atomic attack caused between 40,000 and 80,000 immediate deaths, with the final death toll increasing over a period due to the effects of radiation exposure. The bomb codenamed ‘Fat Man’ is believed to have been much more powerful, complex and larger than the one dropped on Hiroshima.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day 2023: history, photos and facts about the bombings
Nagasaki Day 2023: importance
Every year, the Japanese celebrate Nagasaki Day to remember the lost souls and bravery of soldiers. The day serves as a reminder to act for global peace and disarmament. Various events and ceremonies are organized in Nagasaki and in different parts of the world to advocate for nuclear non-proliferation efforts. It is important to raise awareness in society about the terrible effects of nuclear weapons and to reaffirm our determination to avoid similar catastrophes in the future.
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Nagasaki Day 2023: facts about the bombings
- The plutonium bomb used for the nuclear attack on Nagasaki was known as “Fat Man.”
- The code name ‘Fat Man’ and ‘Little Boy’ for the nuclear bombs was inspired by John Huston’s 1941 film, The Maltese Falcon.
- The bombing of Nagasaki killed around 20% of the city’s population, meaning between 60,000 and 80,000 people.
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Nagasaki was not part of the initial US list. But it was later replaced by Kyoto due to then-US Secretary of War General Stimson’s love for the former capital of Japan.
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Hibakusha is a common term used to refer to survivors of the nuclear attack on Japan.
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A park called Nagasaki Peace Park was built near the hypocenter of the bombing.
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Nagasaki Day sparked international debates about nuclear disarmament and the need to prevent its use in the future.
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Nagasaki Day sparked international debates about nuclear disarmament and the need to prevent its use in the future.
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The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was drafted in 1968 in the wake of the events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In conclusion, Nagasaki Day serves to remember the tragic effects of nuclear weapons and the need to end their use. The day also highlights the importance of national and international efforts and measures to prevent such mishaps in the future.
Important days and dates in August 2023
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Source: ptivs2.edu.vn