HiroshimainHistoryandMemory

Inthiscollectionofessays,prominenthistorianssurveytheHiroshimastoryfromtheAmericandecisiontodropthefirstatomicbombtotherecentcontroversyovertheEnolaGayexhibitinWashington,DC.ThefirstessaysurveystheliteratureontheatomicbombingofJapan,whilethesecondandthirdessaysevaluatethedecisionsthatledtothatevent.TheremainingessaysdiscusshowtheJapaneseandAmericanpeoplehaverememberedHiroshimaintheyearssincetheendofWorldWarII.TheyemphasizetheconstructionofanofficialmemoryofHiroshima,thechallengeposedbyalternativeorcounter-memories,andthetensionbetweenhistoryandmemoryintheHiroshimastory.Thecollectionthusunitesscholarshipbydiplomatichistorianswiththeinterestinmemorythathasemergedaspartofculturalhistory.