As we mark the 65th anniversary of Nagasaki’s hellish destruction, it has always seemed to me that, of the two atomic bombings, this was the one more clearly unnecessary. After all, as Martin J. Sherwin argued in his classic work, “Hiroshima: A World Destroyed,” the second bombing had been allowed to proceed on a timetable... »
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A Hiroshima survivor who became a leader on many issues in Seattle
Akira “Ken” Nakano was a big influence on me and helped me plan my work in Hiroshima in 2009. He died a few months before I left on the Fulbright-sponsored research that led to this blog. Just before the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing,... »
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists says world is (a little) safer
Here’s an article I wrote for YES! Magazine (reprinted with permission): In recognition of progress toward creating a safer world, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists turned back its famed Doomsday Clock by one minute. The clock now is set at 6 minutes to midnight. In... »
Hiroshima, Nagasaki pushing possible bid for 2020 Olympics
Olympics officials keep trying to discourage Hiroshima and Nagasaki from bidding for the games, at least in a joint fashion. But, somewhat reminiscent of the U.S. children’s story about... »
Obama says he would like to visit Hiroshima, Nagasaki
Barack Obama would like to go where no sitting U.S. president has gone before: to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It’s a real statement of Obama’s interest in eliminating nuclear weapons. In... »
Obama and Hiroshima
Hiroshima, Nagasaki and, to a certain extent, other parts of Japan are caught up in attempts to persuade President Barack Obama to visit one of the two A-bombed... »
Note to readers: Back at it
It’s been some two months since the last post here. But, after taking some time to get settled back into U.S. life after my Fulbright-sponsored research work, I am... »
A final stop: Yasukuni
This summer has provided wonderful chances to learn more about Hiroshima, Nagasaki and peace issues. There are literally too many people to thank to begin here. It’s been a pleasure... »
Hiroshima at night
After nearly 20 years away from Hiroshima, I came back to start some fresh reporting and research on the legacy of the city and Nagasaki, their bold attempts to... »
Hiroshima mayor to visit U.S.
Hiroshima’s Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba will travel to the United States next week on a trip that will include a speech to American mayors about the anti-nuclear and peace movement.... »
DVDs and Hiroshima
I had a chance today to talk with Minoru Maeda, an animation director and teacher who did a beautiful movie on the atomic bombing. He was born in 1970,... »
Zen and a Catholic survivor
I was in Tokyo last week and did something I had been thinking about for more than 20 years. Inspired still by the memory of meeting a Catholic priest... »
No Biden talk
On a trip earlier this month, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba addressed U.S. counterparts on efforts to stop nuclear proliferation. But, as the Hiroshima Peace Media Center reported, he didn’t... »
July 4 travel
I was away from Hiroshima traveling with very limited Internet access for a week. Now that I’m back, I will start catching up by posting a link here to... »
92 years young
Fr. Klaus Luhmer was at a Jesuit center outside Hiroshima the day that the city suffered the first atomic bomb attack. At 92, he still has clear memories of... »
Remembering war
Monday was a national holiday in Japan, so there has been a chance to do some traveling this week. Before we left Hiroshima, Patty and I had a chance... »
An elementary disaster
This will be Hiroshima’s busiest and saddest week, with events marking the Aug. 6 anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing. Honkawa Elementary School, which lies only about 500... »
Talking to the visitors
With an influx of visitors from around the world for Thursday’s 64th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bomb attack, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and others groups make... »
Hiroshima mayor’s message
It was a first for Hiroshima’s annual ceremony commemorating the victims of the Aug. 6, 1945 nuclear attack by the United States on Hiroshima. At the end of... »
Alternate declaration
Among the many Aug. 6 events in Hiroshima was a citizens gathering representing activists. I didn’t get a chance to post it before heading down to Nagasaki today, but... »