Nagasaki Day is annually observed across the globe on the 9th of August to create awareness about the hazards of nuclear weapons and to promote peace among nations.
- The day is also observed to remember the victims of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, a city on the island of Kyushu in Japan.
- 9th August 2023 marks the 78th anniversary of Nagasaki Day.
Background:
i.On 9th August 1945, the American USAAF B-29 airplane named “Bockscar”, piloted by United States (US) Army Air Force Major Charles W. Sweeney, dropped the plutonium implosion-type bomb, code name “Fat Man” the 2nd atom bomb on Japan’s Nagasaki.
- The bomb was dropped 3 days after the 1st uranium bomb ‘Little Boy’ on Japan’s Hiroshima.
ii.It was about 3.25 meters (10 feet 8 inches) in length and weighed approximately 4,670 kilograms (10,800 pounds).
iii.Initially, the city of Kokura Arsenal was the primary target, but due to visibility issues caused by smoke and cloud cover, the bomber was diverted to its secondary target, Nagasaki.
- Nagasaki was an industrial center and major port on the western coast of Kyushu.
iv.It is estimated that by the end of 1945, 40,000 to 75,000 people were killed as a result of the blast.
v.Those who survived the immediate blast faced horrific injuries, radiation sickness, and long-term health issues.
- Survivors of the bombing, known as “Hibakusha“
vi.Following the bombings, Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945.
Note: The Manhattan Project produced two different types of atomic bombs, in the ‘Trinity Test’, on July 16, 1945.
About Japan:
Prime Minister (PM)- Kishida Fumio
Capital- Tokyo
Currency- Japanese Yen
