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| Picture of survivors of the Hiroshima Bombing, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Photograph taken December 2019 |
In 9 and 15 August 1945, the Americans dropped one atomic bomb each on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. An estimated 100 000 to 260 000 people died. Many of the survivors suffered from acute radiation syndrome (ARS), or more commonly known as radiation poisoning.
In Japan, the survivors were known as Hibakusha. Due to poor understanding of the ARS, the Hibakusha were often discriminated against in terms of jobs and courtship. This is because it was felt that ARS was either contagious or heritable. Such discrimination extended also to the children of the Hibakusha. It made little difference even if they were born several years after the atomic bombings.
The discrimination was so severe that the Japanese government only recognized them for special assistance in 1952. Today, the Hibakusha are entitled to free medical care and monthly allowance.
This incident is a reminder that discrimination that take many forms, even forms against one's own people.
For more information
Wikipedia
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