Regina, Saskatoon recall nuclear bombings of Hiroshima, Nagasaki

People in Saskatoon and Regina are marking the 70th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Japanese cities were destroyed and from 129,000 to 246,000 peopledied in August 1945 when the United States dropped the nuclear weapons. The attackshastened the end of the Second World War.

In Regina, people gatheredat noon at the north end of the Scarth Street Mall. Exactly 70 years ago today, the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The Nagasaki bomb was dropped three days later.

Michiko Nishimura, 39, anurse from Japan, took part in the Regina event and said she was moved that others also participated.

"I really appreciate it," Nishimura said. "I never thought people here actually care about the war."

Nishimura said she also had conversations with people about what happened and shared differing views on the use of the bomb.

"Some people think it was necessary to finish the war to use the atomic bomb," she said. "It makes me a bit emotional because I think it's not necessary."

The Regina event included a display ofposters from the Hibakusha Worldwide exhibit, which organizers say is an international project dedicated to the millions of people whose lives have been affected by the nuclear industry.

"It started with the atomic bomb, and then hydrogen bomb and nuclear bomb," Nishimura said. "Lots of people in the world are suffering by that. It's not only for Japanese, it's for world peace."

Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Peace Coalition will be holding its annual memorial next week, on Tuesday Aug. 11.

The Saskatoon Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Day Event takes place in Rotary Park (in case of rain, it'll be inside Grace Westminster Church, 505, 10th St. E.), from7 to8 p.m. CST.