History & CultureJapan during World War II was home to approximately 72 million people. At the start of the war, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were home to 345,000 and 250,000 people respectively. Learn more about the effects of the war on the Japanese people, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. During the war, more than 1 million Japanese children were evacuated from cities to the relative safety of the countryside, splitting up families in the process. Rationing and food shortages were rampant throughout the country, beginning as early as 1940. Although official estimates are unclear, by the end of the war in 1945 approximately three percent of the Japanese population, more than 2 million people, had died. Explore the articles below to learn more about Japan. |
Last updated: March 22, 2023