From ashes to international peace cities : Comparison of identity creation and development in Hiroshima & Nagasaki mayoral Peace Declarations 1947–1990

Abstract

Aim of this thesis is to shed light on the differences and similarities between Hiroshima and Nagasaki identity development after the atomic bombings. I analyse the discourses that the city mayors created in annual Peace Declarations held in the memorial ceremonies of the atomic bombings from 1947 to 1990. The memorial ceremonies are held on the days that the atomic bombs were dropped and are nationally and internationally recognized events.

I utilize discourse analysis to examine the Declarations. The term “discourse” has multiple definitions, but I adopt the definition of “an interactive, fluid processes of meaning making”. Ordinary people can influence the identity of a city but in this thesis, I focus on the official discourse created by the city mayors.

I found that both cities wanted to be known as messengers of peace. Nagasaki mayors said that peace movement started from Nagasaki because the city was the last atomic bombed city. Hiroshima mayors emphasized the city’s influence in the global movement for peace through an abstract concept of Spirit of Hiroshima. Nagasaki was left in Hiroshima’s shadow on the international arena, and in Hiroshima Peace Declarations the city’s international identity was emphasized in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1980s Nagasaki took a more aggressive role when challenging the government on the issue of nuclear weapons and compensation for the survivors. At the beginning of 1990s Peace Declarations of both cities started recognizing foreign victims of Japanese imperialism and foreign atomic bomb survivors.