- It is said that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are cities that are risen. Tokyo also has the full right to claim so. Because it was risen even twice
- In total, the fire consumed 270,000 buildings. A million Tokyans were left without a roof over their heads. Metropolis services had no chance of reaction
- The war led to a gigantic decline in the population of the capital. In 1940, Tokyo had 6.7 million inhabitants. Five years later, only 2.7 million
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On the night of March 9-10, 1945, 100,000 were killed. Japanese. More than after dropping the nuclear bomb on Nagasaki.
In 1945, Europe was tired of the war for five years. For Japan it was the eighth year of a devastating war with China. The conflict that led to the Japanese alliance with Germany and Italy. Although we often forget about this in Europe, over 3 million Japanese were killed at that time. How difficult this period was for Japan is provided by the average life expectancy In the early 1940s – 23.9 for men and 37.5 for women.
These numbers are shocking, but only those who want to remember them. The vast majority of residents of the country prefer to enjoy modern data. Today, the world of jealousy of the Japanese 88 years of average life expectancy of women and 81 years old men.
This is what hell must look like
It was a cool and windy night. The inhabitants of Tokyo could expect American raids, because they had already taken place. However, the night attack of March 9-10, named “Operation Meetinghouse”, differed from the previous ones. About 300 powerful American B-29 has chosen a densely populated Shitamachi district. The Americans assumed that Japanese anti -aircraft defense, surprised by a small attack, would not be able to react. 1.5 thousand fell on Tokyo bombs. The carpet raid caused immediate fires. As the Japanese capital was called “a city of paper and wood”, everything was burned in the blink of an eye. American pilots talked about “fire tornado”.
And below in just a few minutes hell unleashed. Residents were burning alive. Neither hiding in shelters nor throwing into the water guaranteed survival. In total, the fire consumed 270,000 buildings. A million Tokyans were left without a roof over their heads. Metropolis services had no chance of reaction. Tokyo experienced the most dramatic moment in its history. Those who miraculously survived this night say: “This is how hell must look.” The war led to a gigantic decline in the population of the capital. In 1940, Tokyo had 6.7 million inhabitants. Five years later, only 2.7 million.
The brain of the fire storm was General Curtis Lemay, named by the Japanese “brutal Lemay”.
“I suppose that if I lost the war, I would be judged as a war criminal”
Lemay said.
The reconstruction process began in the 1950s, when Tokyo was the seat of the American occupation troops. In the 1960s, the reconstruction was still accelerating, and in 1964 the capital of Japan became the host of the Summer Olympic Games.
It is said that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are cities that are risen. Tokyo also has the full right to claim so. Because it was risen even twice. First, after the tragic earthquake from 1923 (105,000 people were killed), and then after the bombing of March 1945.
Continued article under video material
Fight for the monument
Western media suggest that there is no institution in Tokyo dealing with the bombing of March 1945. This is not entirely true. In fact, there is no museum financed from public funds in the capital of Japan that would officially commemorate these events. A substitute for such an anticipated memorial is, however, the monument in the Yokoamichō Park near the Sumida River. The monument-Mogiła resembles the names of the raids killed during the raids in 1942-1945. There is also an Ossarium in the park, in which the remains of 105,400 people killed in all raids to Japan were buried during World War II.
An attempt to commemorate history was made in the Kitasuna district. It is a center of Tokyo bombing and war damage in an inconspicuous building, not reminiscent of monumental museums. The facility was completed thanks to the support of 4,000. Donors on March 9, 2002 Its not very impressive sizes result from the fact that it is a foster museum. Because in 1999 plans for creating a worthy museum of peace were frozen. The ground for the center of the Centrum was handed over to the anonymous donor.
Dozens of artifacts and documents collected from 1970 appeared in the building, and collected by the Association registration of raids on Tokyo. In the museum we will see, among others Overpassed girl kimonos and school backpacks, destroyed by high temperature gas masks. In March 2007, thanks to the help of another group of donors, the three -level building gained several additional rooms for the lecture halls and the extension of existing exhibitions. The most eloquent exhibits were located on the last floor. There are, among others Elements of bombs dropped on Tokyo, personal items of victims, their documents, as well as photos of survivors.
The museum is not a place visited by Japanese and foreigners. Annually the Tokyo bombing center and war damage It has about 10,000 guests. For comparison – the annual number of visitors of the Museum of Peace in Hiroshima exceeded 2 million. Admission to a really private museum, with which the state does not want to identify, costs 300 yen, or 7.5 PLN.
At the anniversary meeting in the center, it was noted that there is still no monument commemorating the victims of raids. A monument that would be similar, e.g. to the foundation stone of the room in the city of Itoman in the Okinawa Prefecture. There, in the park, on black granite walls, the names of all victims of the Battle of Okinawa are engraved.
Despite the round 80 of the bombing of Tokyo, the Japanese did not organize great celebrations, so well known from our yard. On March 10, modest celebrations took place in Sumida Ward, a district of ultra -modern skyscrapers. NHK state television said that “many representatives of families killed in March 1945 took part in the ceremony.” The ceremony was attended by 126. Japan Emperor Naruhito (it is worth remembering that he only acts as a “symbol of the nation” and is deprived of political power). The mayor of Tokyo also appeared. The prime minister was missing.
Patriotic and war controversy
The area around the moat at the imperial palace in Tokyo, and above all wonderful gardens have been visited by foreigners for years. Especially at the turn of March and April, when the Japanese cherry blooms. North of the Palace and Gardens, near the Kudanshita metro station, the most patriotic district of the capital begins. Already between the little Shinto temple next to the subway and the first Torii, i.e. the gate leading to the holy area of Szinto Chrame, we will encounter the faithful bowing towards the temple of Yasukuni-Jinja visible in the distance. This temple was founded in 1869, plays an exceptional role in every Japanese life. He is dedicated to the spirits of soldiers who have fallen in defense of their homeland.
Chram has long been a source of controversy and conflicts. Especially with your closest neighbors. From among the huge number of people worshiped in it, 1068 were recognized as war criminals, and 14 Tokyo Court (appointed in January 1946) recognized class A criminals, i.e. those who committed crimes against peace. Japanese politicians willingly visit Yasukuni-Jinja. And each time there are diplomatic grinding on the Tokyo-Pekin-Seul line.
Currently, more than 2.4 million deities are worshiped in Yasukunia-Jinja. These are the souls of people who from 1853 made the highest sacrifice for their nation in various wars. These people, regardless of social position, are considered completely equal and worshiped as the gods of Yasukuni. So, when the concept of “fell during the Second World War”, is also mentioned 100,000. civil victims of Tokyo bombing?
About 100 m from Yasukuni-Jinja and the most famous cherry in Tokyo is the Yūshūkan War Museum. A place rarely visited by foreign tourists, including Americans, who are not very consciously ended in this district of Tokyo in the Yasukuni and photogenic Torii who leads to it.
Located in two buildings built in various eras, the Yūshūkan museum shows Japan's military successes over the centuries. In the lower hall, at the main entrance, the most important exhibit is the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” bomber from the 1940s, a showcase of Japanese aviation at that time. The Kaiten, exhibited in another hall, is also impressed for suicidal attacks. Who, however, thought that Hiroshima and Nagasaki occupy a lot of space in this museum, could feel disappointed. Three sentences of the 15 x 15 cm format were devoted to both the tragic city to both the tragic city. Much more space in museum showcases was made on … telegrams after a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Even more disappointed, not to say shocked, those who in the “World War II” section expected materials referring to the bombing of Tokyo in the “World War II” section. At the end of March there was no trace of such an event!
The conclusion is itself: In the narrative about Japan's actions during the Second World War, Yūshūkan presents noticeable features of revisionism and glorifying the military past of the country.
Weekly Przegląd
Victims uneven victims
Yoshiaki Tanaka, a professor of history at the University of Senshu in Tokyo, is convinced that many people who survived the bombing still have guilt that they survived. This problem is very Japanese.
Prof. Tanaka has been in contact with a hundred survivors in the last 10 years. – Some were unable to tell about their experiences. I suggested that they try to draw them, in this way to open up somehow. In the case of some, this brought success, others still closed themselves deeply. And it is guilty that they are still alive! – says the professor.
Anyway, those who survived are not considered by the government as suffering victims of the raid. They have no compensation rights. And it is worth remembering that since the end of the war, the Japanese government has allocated 60 trillion yen ($ 405 billion) for support for war veterans and mourning families, as well as for medical assistance for the survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Civil victims of Tokyo bombing were not received by Jen. Japanese courts rejected compensation demands of $ 74.3 million, arguing that “citizens who have been mobilized for defense should endure suffering.” An attempt to go to the aging victims was made in 2020, when a group of parliamentarians proposed a one -off payment of 500,000. Jenów, but in the face of the strong opposition of the ruling party, she withdrew from this idea. However, prof. Tanaka believes that compensation and an official monument, as well as creating archives of survivors' testimonies, will help to some extent to treat Tokyo wounds 80 years ago.
Yumi Yoshida, whose parents and sister died during the bombing, belongs to the rapidly decreasing, due to the age of the survivors demanding compensation from the government.
“This year will be our last chance,” he confesses, not hiding sadness. – Later we and our tragedy will not be.
