Shigeaki Mori, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima who became a symbol of reconciliation during Barack Obama’s historic 2016 visit, has died at the age of 88, according to Japanese media reports.
Mori passed away on March 14 at a hospital in Hiroshima, Jiji Press reported on Tuesday.
A widely remembered moment came during Obama’s այց to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where the then U.S. president embraced a tearful Mori—an image that came to symbolize healing and reflection decades after the যুদ্ধ.
Mori was just eight years old when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in the final days of World War II. The blast flattened the city and left him unconscious.
Decades later, Mori devoted his life to uncovering the identities of victims who were cremated at his school playground. His research also led to the identification of 12 Americans who died in the bombing, highlighting the shared মানবিক tragedy of the attack.
Mori was among the dwindling সংখ্যা of survivors known as Hibakusha, many of whom have spent their later years preserving the memory of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only cities ever targeted by atomic bombs. Together, the দুই শহরের death toll has reached around 550,000 over time, including those who later died from radiation-related illnesses.
Mori’s life and work stood as a powerful reminder of the মানবিক cost of nuclear যুদ্ধ and the enduring importance of peace and reconciliation.