US President Donald Trump's recent statements equating U.S. military actions in Iran to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have ignited outrage in Japan. While addressing reporters about the U.S. strikes, Trump remarked, "I don't want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don't want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing."
This comparison has faced immediate backlash, particularly in a country still traumatized by the devastation caused by the atomic bombings in August 1945, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 140,000 people. The mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, expressed his dismay, stating that if Trump's comments are interpreted as justifying the bombings, it is deeply regrettable for those impacted.
Mimaki Toshiyuki, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing and co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Nihon Hidankyo, condemned Trump's remarks as "unacceptable." Another group member, Teruko Yokoyama, voiced her anger and disappointment in their impact on the survivors’ experiences.
In response to Trump's comments, protests erupted in Hiroshima and lawmakers passed a resolution rejecting any justification for the use of atomic bombs while advocating for peaceful conflict resolution. When questioned about the possibility of Japan lodging a formal complaint, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa reiterated Japan's longstanding position against nuclear weapons to the U.S.
Trump's comments were made while he defended a recent U.S. intelligence report, claiming the strikes on Iran had set back the country’s nuclear program significantly—a statement he supports with claims from CIA director John Ratcliffe. The remarks have found particular sensitivity given Japan’s unique history as the only nation to suffer from nuclear attacks. The memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to be represented through ongoing peace initiatives, including a flame that has burned since the 1960s and a museum dedicated to the events. World leaders visiting Hiroshima are often invited to make paper cranes in a gesture of peace and commitment against nuclear weapons.
