This year marks 75 years since the end of 第二次世界大戦 (dai ni-ji sekai taisen, World War II), and the start of August features several important dates for Japan.
Aug. 6 and 9 are the anniversaries of 広島市への原子爆弾の投下 (Hiroshima-shi e no genshi bakudan no tōka, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima) and 長崎市への原子爆弾の投下 (Nagasaki-shi e no genshi bakudan no tōka, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki), while Aug. 15 will mark 75 years since Emperor Hirohito announced 日本の降伏 (Nihon no kōfuku, the surrender of Japan).
Every year since, these moments have been marked by government officials and 被爆者 (hibakusha, atomic bomb survivors), the latter of whom have been involved in 被爆体験の継承活動 (hibaku taiken no keishō katsudō, activities to pass on the experience of the atomic bomb). In 2020, however, the average age of 被爆者 is 83.31, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and as time goes by it will be hard to hear the stories of these remarkable people first-hand.