オバマ大統領広島訪問の歴史的意義
―アメリカは原爆の呪縛から解かれた
元城西大学教授
杉原誠四郎
平成２８年（２０１６年）５月１７日、アメリカのオバマ大統領が原爆を投下したアメリカの現職大統領として、初めて被爆地広島を訪れ、原爆死没者慰霊碑に献花し、演説し、そして被爆者と対話した。演説では「われわれは歴史を直視し、そのような苦しみを繰り返さないために何をしなければならないかを問う共通の責任がある」と語った。
謝罪の言葉はなかったが、このオバマ大統領の広島訪問には歴史的な意義があることを掘り下げて論じたのが本論文である。
８月６日の今日、この論文を改めて内外の心ある人々に読んでいただきたく、英訳版とともに発信する次第である。（６日が日曜日なので、実際の発信は７日の月曜日。）
論文は、次のような構成、内容となっている。
はじめに
（１）広島平和公園でオバマ大統領の行ったこと
（２）オバマ大統領の広島訪問による歴史認識の修正の必要
（３）日米戦争は実質的にはアメリカ政府によって始められた戦争であり、なおかつアメリカ政府によって必要以上に凄惨になった戦争である
（４）原爆投下まで戦争が続いたことに関する日本側の責任
（５）原爆投下は直近の状況の中では避けるのは難しかったが、長い時間の中で見れば全く必要のないものだった
（６）オバマ大統領の広島訪問の歴史的意義の最大のものは、アメリカをして原爆の呪縛から解放したことにある
＊全文：http://hassin.org/01/wp-content/uploads/hiroshima.pdf
英文版は、下記の内容で海外４０００のアドレスに発信した。
平成２９年８月６日 「史実を世界に発信する会」茂木弘道拝
http://hassin.org
The historical significance of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima
—The U.S. freed from the spell of the atomic bomb
By Sugihara Seishiro, Former Professor at Josai University
On this day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, I would like to present Prof. Sugihara’s thoughtful essay on the meaning of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima on May 27, 2016. The following is the translator’s introduction, written by Mr. Norman Hu:
Few have commented on the importance of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima on May 27, 2016. But among these, Sugihara Seishiro discusses its significance as an act of reconciliation between Japan and the United States, even while he decries the atomic bombings as crimes against countless innocents. Sugihara emphasizes how important it is that this reconciliation was born from the use of the atomic bombs, and how it is a critical and bold statement in the 21st century, when it has become all too commonplace for nations to criticize each other without regard for the long-term consequences.
Japan is the only nation to have experienced the impact of an atomic bomb, and the United States is the only one to have dropped such a weapon in an act of war. Western scholars often discuss Hiroshima with a view to justify what the U.S. did to Japan at war’s end, while Asians may see that action as excessive and entirely preventable. While many Americans argue that the atomic bombs shortened the war and saved further loss of life (both among the Japanese but in particular those of American troops), Japanese people continue to regard the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a supreme tragedy. President Obama highlighted “the remarkable transformation” in relations between the U.S. and Japan inasmuch as seventy years ago, “it would have been very difficult to imagine given the hostility between our two countries.”
This essay was recognized in 2016 for its contribution to modern and contemporary history by the APA Group’s 9th Annual Essay Competition. It is presented here in English for the benefit of readers outside of Japan. Sugihara presents the case that these close ties between erstwhile bitter enemies are a testament to humanity’s ability to reconcile given even the most virulent of enmities. Crucially, it is a clear statement that one not only needs to acknowledge and learn from history, but above all, to look forward.
URL: http://www.sdh-fact.com/essay-article/1005/
PDF: http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Sugihara_ObamaHiroshima4.pdf
MOTEKI Hiromichi, Acting Chairman
for KASE Hideaki, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact