Hiroshimans

Hiroshimans are residents of Hiroshima Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Honshu, Japan. The prefecture covers an area of approximately 8,431 square kilometres and has a population of about 2.8 million people. Hiroshima City, the capital, serves as the political, economic, and cultural centre of the region. The inhabitants speak a local Hiroshima dialect, which is a part of the Western Japanese linguistic group, though standard Japanese is widely used.

The history of Hiroshima is notably marked by the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city during the final stages of World War II. The event resulted in the loss of around 140,000 lives and left a profound impact on the city’s social fabric. In the aftermath, the survivors, known as hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors), became central voices in the global movement for nuclear disarmament.

In 1959, the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Memorial Park were established to commemorate the victims and promote world peace. The Miyajima Island, a short boat ride from Hiroshima, is famous for its "floating" torii gate and attracts many pilgrims and tourists. The region’s cuisine, including okonomiyaki, oysters, and Hiroshima-style soba, reflects its access to the Seto Inland Sea and surrounding mountainous terrain.

Hiroshimans maintain strong community ties through festivals such as the Gion Matsuri and the Hiroshima Electric Railway Festival. The economy blends traditional industries, like steel production and shipbuilding, with modern sectors such as information technology and tourism. Hiroshima University's research initiatives, especially in the field of peace studies, underscore the city’s ongoing commitment to fostering global understanding.