Kyodo News Conducts Survey on 80th Anniversary of Atomic Bombings
6,600 Surveyed, 1,532 Valid Responses
Concerns Raised Over "Spreading Narrow-Minded Nationalism"
Atomic bomb. Photo by Asia Economy DB
Amid unstable international circumstances such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the North Korean nuclear crisis, a survey has found that 7 out of 10 Japanese atomic bomb survivors believe that "the possibility of nuclear weapons being used again is increasing."
According to a survey by Kyodo News released on July 12, 68.6% of all respondents said that the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used has grown. Only 6.7% responded negatively, saying they did not think so, while 24.7% answered that they were unsure.
This survey was conducted with the cooperation of Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations), which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Kyodo News distributed questionnaires to about 6,600 survivors starting in February, receiving 1,532 responses. The respondents who provided valid answers were between 79 and 104 years old.
Among those who said the likelihood of nuclear weapons use had increased, many cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear development as reasons, according to Kyodo News. An 86-year-old woman responded, "Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested the possibility of using nuclear weapons." An 82-year-old female respondent said, "Narrow-minded nationalism is spreading," while an 88-year-old male respondent pointed out, "The use of nuclear weapons is being discussed too lightly."
In addition, 45.7% of respondents said they "cannot forgive" the United States for dropping the atomic bombs, while 24.3% said they "have no particular feelings." The response "I don't know" accounted for 16.9%.
Regarding Japan's acceptance of the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, 43.9% answered, "Japan should move away from it, but it is premature at this point," 24.8% said, "Japan should move away from it immediately," and 19.6% said, "There is no need to move away from it."
The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and then on Nagasaki on August 9 of the same year. The number of deaths caused by the atomic bombings is estimated at 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki, which corresponds to 42% of the population of Hiroshima and 26% of the population of Nagasaki, respectively.
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