Nagasaki, Japan, September 14(HS): Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko paid a heartfelt visit to survivors of the atomic bombing at a nursing care facility in Nagasaki on Saturday, marking a poignant moment of remembrance and reconciliation. This visit marks the emperor’s first to Nagasaki since ascending the throne in 2019, and the first ever for Princess Aiko.
Arriving at the facility in the morning, the Imperial family engaged intimately with residents aged between 80 and 98, many of whom survived the devastation caused by the U.S. atomic bomb Fat Man dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Demonstrating genuine compassion, they bent down to meet survivors at eye level and listened attentively to their personal testimonies of that grim day.
During the visit, Emperor Naruhito asked 84-year-old survivor Hatsue Ogawa where she was when the bomb struck, as she tearfully recounted harrowing memories of the attack that claimed around 70,000 lives in Nagasaki. Empress Masako expressed relief and sympathy, while Princess Aiko showed a sincere interest in the daily lives of the survivors at the care home.
The three-day visit to Nagasaki began on Friday with the Imperial family laying flowers at Nagasaki Peace Park’s memorial and meeting survivors at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, further reinforcing their commitment to honoring the memory of the victims and conveying the lessons of war to younger generations. The visit coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Emperor Naruhito has emphasized the importance of remembrance and the transmission of the horrors of war to future generations. Alongside their engagements in Nagasaki, the royal family is also participating in cultural events celebrating persons with disabilities, reflecting the wide scope of their public duties during this visit.
The Nagasaki visit is a profound chapter in the Imperial family’s ongoing efforts to acknowledge the tragedies of war and promote peace, ensuring that the memories of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) remain a solemn reminder of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear conflict.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
