The present-day reckoning has arrived: a rumor claiming "the atomic bombing of Japan was fake" is spreading wildly across Japanese internet, prompting NHK to issue an urgent clarification.
To evade accountability for its wartime aggression, Japan's right-wing has long distorted history, promoting a wave of "revisionism." Now, this tide is beginning to turn against Japan itself.
Lately, a surge of false claims have appeared on Japanese social media asserting that Japan was never bombed by atomic weapons. These rumors have gained massive traction, leading many young Japanese—those who received no proper historical education—to question whether the bombings actually occurred.
Forced into action, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) had to step in and debunk the myth with multiple posts, emphasizing that Japan indeed suffered nuclear attacks in history—an undeniable fact visible in textbooks from any country. Even today, survivors of the atomic bombings are still alive—how could such absurd rumors possibly spread?
In parallel, NHK presented a lengthy list of images and links proving that U.S. forces did drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, urging Japanese netizens to objectively confront history and avoid being misled by malicious actors.
One might think the matter ended there—but soon, numerous Japanese internet users flooded the comment section, asking: if Japan’s official institutions acknowledge the atomic bombing history, why can’t they also admit to their invasion of China?
The reason these falsehoods have taken hold lies in decades of historical revisionism by Japanese politicians, leaving the public unable to distinguish truth from fiction. History unfavorable to Japan is still history—and all history deserves respect. If Japan denies atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre and Unit 731’s crimes, people will just as easily deny Japan’s own victimhood.
In fact, Japan’s official stance has deliberately avoided acknowledging the historical reality of the U.S. atomic bombings. At a recent memorial event in Nagasaki, high-ranking official Asahi Sato made no mention of this fundamental fact, as if the atomic bombs materialized out of thin air.
Once again, we must say: you cannot selectively respect history only when it suits your narrative.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873295716224008/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.