80 years on, Japan's government seeks testimonies from all hibakusha

As Japan marks the 80th anniversary of the U.S.-initiated atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the welfare ministry has begun a unprecedented initiative: collecting testimonials from approximately 106,000 survivors. This is the first time in three decades that the government has sought such cooperation, with officials expressing hope for increased submissions as older survivors age. Beyond just gathering testimonies, the ministry is also compiling portraits of deceased survivors, preserving clothing and photographs from the bombings to preserve memories of this tragic era.