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Double survivors -

Following the bombing of Hiroshima, a number of survivors embarked on a journey to Nagasaki, where they experienced another destructive bombing. It is estimated that approximately 165 individuals managed to survive both attacks.

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City flower -

The oleander is considered the city flower of Hiroshima, as it was the first plant to grow after the explosion.

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Frame of reference -

On August 9th, 1945, Nagasaki had around 260,000 residents. Currently, the city is home to over half a million people.

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Koreans -

An estimated 10% of the victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were Korean, some of whom were forced to work in Japanese factories, aiding in the production of weapons for the Japanese army.

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Survivors -

The Radiation Effects Research Foundation, established by the US and Japan, extensively researched over 94,000 survivors of the bombings, making them one of the most heavily studied groups of people in the world. 

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Ginkgo tree -

Six ginkgo trees, located just under a mile from the Hiroshima explosion site, endured damage but miraculously persisted and continued to thrive. Today, these trees symbolize hope in Japan.

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The first -

During his tenure, Barack Obama made history in May 2016 by becoming the first US President to visit Hiroshima while in office. As part of his visit, he toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, a place that pays tribute to those who lost their lives.

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Their own word -

The Japanese word used for the survivors of the bombing is "Hibakusha." It literally means "people affected by the explosion."

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Symbol of Peace -

The Nagasaki Peace Park opened in 1955 in the location where the atomic bomb fell. Located within the park is a 30-ton statue created by Seibo Kitamura. The statue has its right hand pointing at the sky, symbolizing the danger of nuclear weapons, and its left hand extended horizontally to symbolize peace.

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Moment of silence -

On August 6th every year, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park organizes a ceremony in memory of the victims. The Japanese Prime Minister and the Mayor of Hiroshima give a speech at 8:16 am (the time of the explosion), followed by a minute of silence.

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Radiation -

Scientific studies indicate that the survivors received an average dose of 210 millisieverts of radiation. In comparison, an MRI in a hospital emits just 2 millisieverts.

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Differences -

Contrary to popular belief, there are no distinctions between children born to individuals impacted by explosions and those born to unaffected individuals.

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Expansion -

In 2005, the city of Nagasaki grew significantly, as other towns such as Koyaji, Nomozaki, Sanwa, Sotome, Lojima, and Takashima became part of the city.

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Life expectancy -

A study conducted by a molecular biologist named Bertrand Jordan concluded that the life expectancy of those affected by the explosions in Nagasaki and Hiroshima was only reduced by mere months in comparison to those that weren't affected.

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End to nuclear weapons -

Hiroshima continues to be one of the cities that most vehemently condemns the use of nuclear weapons. The mayor is also the president of Mayors for Peace, a world organization that tries to convince various cities to abolish and condemn the use of nuclear weapons.

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Expansion -

By the end of 1958, the population of Hiroshima had grown to 410,000 citizens, surpassing the pre-attack numbers. Presently, the city is inhabited by over 1.2 million people.

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Saved city -

Kyoto was allegedly saved from the atomic bomb by Henry L. Stimson, the US Secretary of War. Stimson is said to have dissuaded Truman from bombing the old capital, both due to its cultural significance, as well as to the fact that it had been his honeymoon destination.

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Investigation -

After the bombings, it became very common in Japan for people to hire private detectives in order to discover whether their loved ones survived the attack.

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Shadows -

The impact of the explosion was incredibly powerful, resulting in the imprints of the victims' shadows on the pavement. These shadows were formed due to the immense heat emitted from the explosion, altering the color of the buildings. A number of these markings can still be observed at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

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Prejudice -

There is a constant prejudice that follows the survivors of the bombings and their families in Japan. There are still many who believe that the mutations from radiation are hereditary, and could be contagious. These people often have difficulty finding jobs.

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Radars -

Japanese radars at the time did detect some American planes in Japanese airspace and a warning was sounded. However a weather plane later determined that there were no bombers in sight. Once American planes reached Hiroshima a warning to take shelter was issued again, though this time it was largely ignored.

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Classified -

Out of the 12 individuals on board the Enola Gay, the aircraft responsible for deploying the first bomb, only three were aware of the true objective of the Hiroshima mission.

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Postpone -

Tokyo only discovered that Hiroshima had been bombed three hours after the fact. 

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Temperature -

The heat emitted by the bombs was similar to that of the temperature of the sun.

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A tragic title -

Japan continues to be the only country that has suffered a nuclear attack.

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Bodies -

Not all of the victims' bodies were identified, because many were completely turned to ash.

See also: Fascinating photos of World War II

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