Desk Report,
Atomic bomb influenced Japanese art
Today, August 6, is Hiroshima Day. On this day in 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II has influenced the country’s art in many ways. The country’s films and animation series have depicted the tragic effects of radiation sickness after the atomic bomb explosion. In the last 80 years since World War II, stories of destruction and transformation have mixed with the fear of the Japanese people. This has been combined with natural disasters and the recent Fukushima crisis. Such images are shown in the film Godzilla. The classic manga and anime series Astro Boy have shown scenes of nuclear destruction. This series is known as ‘Mighty Atom’ in Japanese. On the other hand, series such as Akira, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Attack on Titan have depicted city-destroying explosions.
Atomic bomb influenced Japanese art
William Tsutsui, a history professor at the University of Ottawa, says the theme of “surviving the pain of death” and “overcoming trauma” is a recurring theme in Japanese cultural expression, which has attracted audiences worldwide.
The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed about 140,000 people. A few days later, on August 9, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 74,000 people. Author Yoko Tawada says that some poems capture the raw horror of the moment of the atomic bomb explosion. But many novels and works of art do so in a more indirect way.
Today, August 6, is Hiroshima Day. On this day in 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II has influenced the country’s art in many ways. The country’s films and animation series have depicted the tragic effects of radiation sickness after the atomic bomb explosion. In the last 80 years since World War II, stories of destruction and transformation have mixed with the fear of the Japanese people. This has been combined with natural disasters and the recent Fukushima crisis. Such images are shown in the film Godzilla. The classic manga and anime series Astro Boy have shown scenes of nuclear destruction. This series is known as ‘Mighty Atom’ in Japanese. On the other hand, series such as Akira, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Attack on Titan have depicted city-destroying explosions.
William Tsutsui, a history professor at the University of Ottawa, says the theme of “surviving the pain of death” and “overcoming trauma” is a recurring theme in Japanese cultural expression, which has attracted audiences worldwide.
The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed about 140,000 people. A few days later, on August 9, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 74,000 people. Author Yoko Tawada says that some poems capture the raw horror of the moment of the atomic bomb explosion. But many novels and works of art do so in a more indirect way.
