SSM: Nuclear War | Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Nuclear War | Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Photo by Armin Forster from Pexels
Talking about nuclear war can be tricky. Children find it difficult to grasp the extent of damage created by nuclear war, as well as the concept of the ‘invisible threat’ posed by radiation poisoning.
In this Country Quest we chose to focus on a particular story - that of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died of radiation poisoning. Before her death she folded 1,000 origami cranes - a symbol of long life - with the help of friends. Since then, Sadako and her cranes have become a symbol of peace in Japan. The character for this section is a young girl attempting to learn to make an origami crane before she visits the Sadako Sasaki Memorial with her class.
“Children will hear about nuclear weapons so tell them the truth in a simple way they can understand, let them ask questions and reassure them that governments and leaders are working hard to make sure they are never used”
Location of SSM:
Between activities 7 and 8 is our SSM. Activity 8 involves discussion of both nuclear war and Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
If you wish to skip this activity, the token letter is: S.
Why we chose to talk about Hiroshima and Nagasaki
August 6th is Hiroshima Peace Day
The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are an unavoidable and important part of Japanese history.
Japanese children learn about their history from a young age, and are often asked to remember the stories of those who suffered.
Talking about the dangers of nuclear war and the suffering inflicted upon people can be a powerful tool for promoting peace, regardless of your perspective on nuclear disarmament.
Tips for talking about Nuclear War
Emphasise how truly rare nuclear attacks are
There have only been 2 nuclear bombs dropped on people since they were invented. Although the legacy and impact of nuclear weapons is more complex than this, children will be comforted by understanding that the likelihood of nuclear attack is virtually nil.
Model action, particularly if your child seems interested or motivated
There are plenty of organisations you can join which either promote peace or campaign for nuclear disarmament. The CND is the most well known organization in the UK, but others exist.
Keep talking to kids
Often one conversation about a topic is not enough. Children have additional questions as well as complicated feelings. Check in with your kids regularly - you can ask how they’re feeling or you can be more direct and ask if they’ve thought any more about your previous conversation.
Parents and guardians should stay relaxed and answer questions
Children pick up quickly if a topic is upsetting to parents/guardians. To put it plainly, if you’re scared, they will be too. It’s best to approach the topic in a relaxed, neutral way, during a peaceful, quiet moment rather than a moment of stress or activity.
Answering questions as honestly as possible is crucial. Children are often aware if parents are being dishonest with them. Don’t say “don’t worry” - it rarely works for adults or for children. This article has some excellent suggestions for scripts you can use.
Resources to help you
Statue of Sadako Sasaki, Drlbm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hiroshima - A survivor's story in animation: A video produced by CBBC showing the story of a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. The video is created for children but younger children may still find it disturbing. Best to watch first before showing children.
“Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Who is to Blame?”, The Alarmist (ADULTS ONLY): This is a podcast about the bombings debating where blame lies for the attacks. The overall format is reductive, but the discussion is interesting.
Barefoot Gen (ADULTS ONLY): This is a Japanese anime film about the bombing of Hiroshima. We haven’t seen the film, although there is a detailed parental review here which recommends an age limit of 12+.
“Peace Tree from Hiroshima: A Little Bonsai with a Big Story”, by Sandra Moore: About Japanese-US reconciliation, which also links to Hiroshima. Written by an American.
“Soul Lanterns”, Shaw Kuzki: A novel about a young girl from Hiroshima beginning to investigate the history of her city and her family. For kids aged 10-12.
“Sadako and the thousand paper cranes”, Eleanor Coerr: We discuss Sadako and her impact on the memorialization of Hiroshima and Nagasaki within Japan during Activity 8 of the Japan workbook. For kids aged 8-12. Written by a Canadian-American.
A little more detail on Sadako Sasaki and the peace movement in her name.
Kids Heiwa Nagasaki: A Japanese created website with educational resources for children about the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A helpful guide for parents visiting Hiroshima with their children.
Things to watch out for
It’s best to avoid Googling Hiroshima and Nagasaki
One of the first things to appear is often the injuries suffered by people. These images will be disturbing for children (or anyone). Focus on high level descriptions (i.e. “people got sick” or “people had burns”) rather than showing images.
Links to Ukraine war
It is possible that older children will link the nuclear threat to the current situation in Ukraine. Here’s a good resource for talking about Ukraine with children.
Be aware of contentious debates around American involvement
There is a particular narrative surrounding the decision to drop the bomb. Many with US sympathies claim that the dropping of the bombs was an attempt to save lives. Others claim it was an unnecessary and heinous war crime. You may or may not wish to engage with this narrative (here and here are some interesting perspectives) but it’s best to be aware of it. We recommend you emphasise the impact on the lives of Japanese civilians - try not to skip straight to the US rationale.