Rethinking “Peace” of Hiroshima: Restoring the Subject, and the Logic of “the Only A-bombed Nation”

A critical analysis of Japan's post-WWII peace discourse reveals that the notion of Hiroshima as 'the only A-bombed nation' emerged as a reaction to the discovery of Korean A-bomb victims and North Korea's nuclear program. This study challenges the conventional understanding of pacifism in Japan, highlighting how collective memory mechanisms have been manipulated to reconstruct Japanese national victimhood while downplaying US responsibility for the bombings and Japan's colonial history. The research examines key moments—such as debates over the Cenotaph inscription and preservation of the A-bomb Dome—to demonstrate how 'peace' in Hiroshima has been denationalized and universalized, often at the expense of acknowledging broader historical contexts.

Heok-Tae, K., & Norimatsu, S. O. (2023). Rethinking “Peace” of Hiroshima: Restoring the Subject, and the Logic of “the Only A-bombed Nation”. Asia-Pacific Journal, 21(8). https://doi.org/10.1017/s155746602302884x