President Obama arrives in Hiroshima for historic visit

President Obama arrives at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

(Image credit: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

published 27 May 2016

On Friday, President Obama landed in Hiroshima, making him the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city destroyed by a U.S. atomic bomb at the end of World War II. Obama has said he won't apologize for the bombing, which killed 100,000 people, mostly civilians, but on Friday he laid a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and also visited the more controversial museum, which mostly portrays Japan as a victim. Security is tight at the memorial park, but hundreds of people are lined up along Peace Boulevard, waving for Obama, The New York Times reports, including bombing survivors, a Buddhist monk, and families and office workers.

"Even if all he does is come here, that is enough," said Jitsuo Mizuta, 84, who survived the Hiroshima bombing. "I am so happy. I don't need any apology or anything."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.