HIROSHIMA saw another historic event when US President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to visit the site of the first ever atomic bomb drop.

The visit was met with mixed emotions both in and outside of Japan, as Obama refused to apologise for the horrific bombing of this city during World War Two.

On August 6, 1945 at 8.15am, the world's first atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima City. This was not a military base, this was a city filled with civilians. This bomb claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people in a matter of days.

Those who had escaped immediate death, died soon after from radiation, cancer, or burns. It was an horrific event, that some say, ended the war. The US decided to take this path as they felt that after the war was over, the destruction of Japan would ensure the Soviet Union’s influence would be severely restricted. Many people feel that such an attack should never have happened; and should never happen again.

Before visiting the Peace Park, I knew it would be emotional and difficult to experience. But I had underestimated its effect. Listening to the stories of the victims and their families was harrowing; and I wasn’t the only one there crying. Throughout the day I saw people of every age and nationality wiping tears from their cheeks. The bombings of 1945 are not just a pivotal moment in Japan’s history, they are pivotal to us all.

Obama’s visit was not met with approval by everyone. Many criticised the President for not apologising about the bombings. But, it’s important to remember that it wasn’t Obama who ordered the bombings. It was the American government, yes, but not Obama himself. One person's decisions should not have to be atoned for by someone else. Obama’s visit was monumental for Japanese - American relations, but all the media can focus on is his lack of apology.

Visiting The Peace Park in Hiroshima, you can see a Children’s Memorial, dedicated to the children who lost their lives as a result of the bombings. While walking around the memorial, you can see messages left by students to President Obama saying - “Mr. Obama. We cannot possibly put our gratitude into words. Thank You”. It seems these children only saw the president's visit as a good thing. The media can be so quick to jump on the negatives that they don’t always stop to ask the people involved how events have made them feel. I did.

I spoke to several of my Japanese students about Obama’s visit. I wanted to better understand how the people of Japan really felt about recent events, rather than what the media was telling us about them.

“I think it was a big progress for Japan and America…(Obama) came to Japan and gave a great speech…We both don’t need to apologise to each other. I think he…could see a bright future, rather than looking in the past, when we were hurting each other” - Arisa Taketani, Kyoto.

“Visiting Hiroshima may have been tough for (Obama) but he did it during his term. It is a historic moment and has a very important meaning…I don’t think he should apologise…because all people in those days were victims of war. It was no one’s fault” - Yumiko Demizu

“Some people say Obama should have apologised, but the important thing is he gave such a nice speech during his term, that (the previous presidents) have never done. I thought he was brave. His visit made me think about what war is and also, what peace is. I really hope people around the world feel the same way I felt” - Natsuki Kitagawa

The grief from that day will be with the people of Japan forever, but the need for peace will always be stronger. The message of the memorials in Hiroshima is not one of revenge, or hatred - it is only about peace. And so, that is where I shall leave this article, with two words that mean more than I could express in a whole book - Never Again.