Hibakusha, the atomic bombing survivors, have been tirelessly exerting themselves toward a world free of nuclear weapons, with their only wish that no one else should go through the sufferings they have experienced. As the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki further fade away, given the advanced age of hibakusha, it is urgent for younger generations to learn more.
Hiroshima marks the 78th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing by the United States after its nuclear legacy took center stage when it hosted the summit of the Group of Seven major economies in May.
Yoshinao Shimamoto, a 61-year-old living in Kobe, always knew his parents had been exposed to the effects of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in the final stages of World War II on Aug. 6, 1945, but he never had the chance to discuss it with them in detail.