The current crises facing the world will be brought into sharp relief as Hiroshima – the first city to be annihilated by a nuclear bomb – plays host to the annual G7 summit of seven of the world’s wealthiest countries. Crucially, leaders will have a rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with survivors who still want to tell their stories to the world.
Forever branded on the collective consciousness, Hiroshima has become a symbol of resilience in the face of nuclear destruction. It is also home to a large population of hibakusha, as the survivors of the atomic bomb are known. There are estimated to be 118,935 hibakusha in Japan, with 39,590 still living in Hiroshima.
That the G7 meeting is being hosted in the city is down to Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. A son of Hiroshima, he has consistently emphasised his city’s significance rather than shy away from its historic horrors.
