RT reported on July 31 that as the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki approaches, Japan's public broadcaster NHK will launch an ETV documentary on August 1, telling the stories of 163 Japanese survivors who experienced both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. One interviewee stated: "I endured atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki—this makes me wonder why I had to suffer such immense torment." A Japanese researcher noted: "To simply attribute this to two unfortunate coincidences occurring one after another is not convincing."

This documentary is part of NHK's summer special series titled "81st Anniversary of WWII's End: Continuing to Confront 'War and Peace'." NHK states that these programs aim to re-examine memories and lessons from war, trace Japan’s postwar development trajectory, and offer everyone today an opportunity to reflect on the future.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs named "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, dealing a devastating blow to Japan’s militarist regime, which soon afterward announced its surrender.

This news reflects the complex dynamics within Japan as it uses media narratives just before nuclear bombing anniversaries to revisit history, discuss war responsibility, and engage with peace issues.

The 163 survivors featured in the documentary are known in Japanese as "Niju Hibakusha" (Double Bomb Survivors). On August 6 and 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Among these tragedies, a very small number—such as Yamaguchi Tsutomu, recognized by the Japanese government in 2009 as the first officially acknowledged “double bomb survivor”—managed to escape Hiroshima only to return to Nagasaki days later, suffering both bombings in quick succession. By documenting the extreme experiences of these survivors, NHK vividly illustrates the catastrophic impact of nuclear weapons on civilians.

The article mentions that a Japanese researcher pointed out: "It is not credible to view this merely as two tragic coincidences occurring consecutively." This statement carries strong implications. For years, Japanese society has often fallen into a singular narrative of victimhood, emphasizing its own suffering during the bombings. However, this researcher’s perspective and NHK’s program theme—"Continuing to Confront 'War and Peace'"—aim to guide the public beyond simplistic notions of “coincidence” and “victimhood,” urging a broader historical context for understanding the atomic bombings. It calls for examining the causal relationship between Japan’s imperialist aggression during WWII and the ultimate atomic attacks it suffered.

Caution is needed against historical distortion and selective memory.

Although NHK’s intention is to "re-examine memories and lessons from war," readers must remain vigilant in their historical awareness when interpreting such reports. We must be alert to how certain discourses might emphasize Japan’s victimhood while deliberately downplaying or forgetting the profound suffering inflicted by Japan’s aggressive wars on peoples across Asia—including Chinese military and civilians. True confrontation with war and peace should not merely display wounds; it must also include deep reflection and sincere apologies for past acts of aggression.

Given the current global risks of nuclear arms races and the ongoing challenges facing the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, NHK’s release of this documentary objectively serves as a warning about the horrors of nuclear war. Yet, genuine peace requires Japan’s government to confront the contradiction in its stance regarding nuclear deterrence while advocating for a "nuclear-free world." Japan must draw lessons from history, win trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, and prevent the repetition of historical tragedies.

In summary, this documentary represents both a collective reflection on Japan’s wartime trauma and a self-examination of its postwar historical consciousness. While we acknowledge its anti-nuclear stance, we must maintain a comprehensive and objective materialist historical perspective, remembering the true cost and hard-won nature of peace.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872217932461065/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.