Legacy of Hiroshima: Remembering Shigeaki Mori

Shigeaki Mori, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor famously embraced by former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016, has died at age 88. Despite the horrors he experienced, Mori dedicated his life to uncovering the identities of victims, including 12 Americans, ensuring their stories were not forgotten.

Shigeaki Mori, known for his poignant embrace with President Barack Obama during the latter's historic 2016 visit to Hiroshima, has passed away at the age of 88, according to Jiji Press. Mori's embrace with Obama remains an iconic image from this significant event.

Born in Hiroshima, Mori was eight years old when the atomic bomb devastated the city on August 6, 1945. He later spent decades identifying victims, including 12 Americans, who died in the blast, contributing significantly to the historical documentation of the tragic event.

Mori's passing marks another somber reminder for the community of 'hibakusha,' the Japanese term for nuclear bombing survivors. These survivors have been instrumental in preserving the memory of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, which collectively claimed around 550,000 lives.

(With inputs from agencies.)