Newly Discovered Film Of Ground Zero At Nagasaki

Today was the 62nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. As part of the news coverage of this historical event, the Japanese media aired this recently discovered 8mm film, which was taken soon after the bombing by a military doctor:

7 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - August 9, 2007 at 9:04 pm

Categories: General Japan, Japanese TV Tags:

shazzb0t

Wow.. terrible.
http://myso-calledjapaneselife.blogspot.com/ Shari

I’m pretty sure the aftermath of any bombing is going to show similar rubble though, I must say, that was so fuzzy and low contrast that it was hard to make out much detail.

I will say that I don’t believe this was “recently discovered” given that it was shown on the anniversary of the bombing. I think this was held back on in order to serve it up at the most advantageous time. I don’t object to showing history but I do object to that coverage being used only to emotionally manipulate people. Does this video do anything besides gather more people around the “Japan as a victim of WWII” banner? Does it tell us anything we don’t already know or show anything we haven’t already seen?

TofuUnion

Showing the film to the world on the anniversary was intended for the people to understand about the devastation of A-bomb. This doesn’t necessarily mean ” Japan as a victim of WWII ” at all. Japan as a whole was an invader to Asian countries.

Also, anti Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima or Nagasaki isn’t anti-US. The important thing is that A-Bomb survivors in Japan KEEP appealing for the disarmament of nuclear weapons. This film is just an action for it.

doinkies

I agree with TofuUnion. Commemorating the bombings and remembering their devastation isn’t bashing the US or saying that “Japan was a victim”, it is more anti-war and anti-nuclear weapons in general.
http://hiddenblog1.blogspot.com/ The Unseen One

I agree. It is ALSO a reminder of why not to get into wars in the first place, considering to what point any war can escalate.

While I don’t agree with total nuclear disarmament, I think it is important to remember how terrible and destructive these weapons are.

shazzb0t

Good point. I think a lot of people undereducated about the post-war sensibilities of the Japanese fail to see that a part of the anti-nuclear sentiment is attached to the notion of pacifism. This is far from a ‘boo hoo, pity us’ sentiment for many Japanese. The only individuals who seem keen on playing that victim role are the right-wing nationalists.

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Newly Discovered Film Of Ground Zero At Nagasaki

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