japanese
Staff writers answer readers' question related to the atomic bomb

Q & A about Hiroshima/the atomic-bomb

(2)Was Japan trying to develop an atomic bomb?

Q

Wasn't Japan trying to develop its own atomic bomb during World War II?



A
photo
Report on plans to develop an atomic bomb by "Ni Research," submitted in 1944. The chart outlines the procedure for compressing uranium.

Research was undertaken, but an atomic bomb wasn't developed.

Japan was the first country in the world to be attacked by an atomic bomb. However, if Japan had actually developed an atomic bomb, it's possible Japan would have become the perpetrator instead of the victim.

First, I spoke with Masakatsu Yamazaki, a physics professor at Tokyo Industry University. He responded, "Yes, like the United States and Germany, Japan was intent on developing an atomic bomb." I found this information rather shocking.

Dr. Nishina and Dr. Arakatsu led the research.

A closer look at the history of the atomic bomb

In 1938, nuclear fission using uranium was discovered in Germany. This fission produced enormous energy and countries quickly became involved in a race to create weapons from this discovery.

In Japan, two teams from the army and navy were engaged in this work. In the army, Dr. Yoshio Nishina led the research at the Chemical Research Institute. This project was called "Ni Research" (after the first sound "Ni" in "Nishina"). And in the navy, a professor from Kyoto University, Bunsaku Arakatsu, led their "F Research" (for "fission").

Working with uranium requires highly advanced skills, so "Ni Research" experienced many difficulties, particularly the fact that they lacked sufficient uranium. During the war, Japan was only able to obtain an estimated 500 kilograms. According to Professor Yamazaki, more than 100 tons is needed to produce an atomic bomb, which means their amount was only 1/200 of this quantity. Moreover, Japan's investment in this research was only 1/400 of the sum the United States spent on its own project.

After air raids by the allied forces heavily damaged his research facilities, Professor Nishina called a halt to the army's work. Although the navy's "F Research" continued, they were still in an early stage of development when the war ended. Thus, Japan was unable to produce an atomic bomb.

Appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons

On August 10th, four days after the attack on Hiroshima, a report by the army's research group confirmed that the bomb used was indeed an atomic bomb. Both Professor Nishina and Professor Arakatsu were involved in this investigation and they were shocked by the horror of the weapon they had tried to make.

In the post-war era, there were a number of scientists actively involved in appealing for peace. A member of the "F Research" group, Nobel prize winner Dr. Hideki Yukawa, campaigned for the abolition of nuclear weapons until his death in 1981.

The President of Hiroshima University, Taizo Muta, recalls how Dr. Yukawa "attended our meetings even after cancer surgery forced him to sit in a wheelchair. He had a great passion for peace."

Keywords

  • Uranium

    An element found mainly in minerals, with the atomic number of 92. Radiation can be generated from this element, so it is used for producing atomic energy.

  • Nuclear fission

    When a neutron collides with the nucleus of an atom, such as uranium, fission (breaking apart) of that nucleus occurs. This fission results in a burst of neutrons and a release of enormous energy.

  • The Chemical Research Institute (RIKEN)

    Originally founded as a private research foundation in 1917. Now, as an independent administrative institution, it carries out research in cooperation with universities and companies.

  • Dr Hideki Yukawa

    A physicist, he received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1949 for analyzing the structure of an atom's nucleus.



"The Clock at 8:16," an American novel

In response to our last issue, in which this column examined the time the atomic bomb was dropped, a reader shared information about a novel called "The Clock at 8:16", written by Edwin Lanham and published in 1970.

This novel relates a love story involving an American soldier and a Japanese woman who was a survivor of the atomic bomb. Written from the American man's point-of-view, it accurately describes life in Japan. The book is now out of print, but it can be borrowed from the Hiroshima Public Library.

As for the time the bomb was dropped, the time used in the novel matches the conclusion of American journalists, that the atomic bomb was dropped at 8:15 and 17 seconds, and 43 seconds later, it exploded. And more than might be expected, it deals with the American consciousness as the country which caused the tragedy as well as the feelings of bombing victims. (Kyoko Morioka, staff writer)