Hiroshima [Japan], August 6 (ANI): Thousands of people gathered in Hiroshima on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the world’s first wartime use of a nuclear bomb. Survivors, dignitaries, and representatives from 120 countries and territories joined in calling for a global commitment to nuclear disarmament, Al Jazeera reported.
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped a uranium bomb, codenamed Little Boy, on the western Japanese city, instantly killing an estimated 78,000 people. Tens of thousands more died by the end of the year from radiation-related illnesses and injuries. Just three days later, a second bomb devastated Nagasaki, prompting Japan’s surrender on August 15 and bringing World War II to an end.
At Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park—located near the epicenter of the bombing—this year’s ceremony saw the largest international presence to date. Reporting from the site, Al Jazeera’s Fadi Salameh noted the solemn rituals, which began at 8 a.m. with the offering of flowers and water—symbols of comfort for the bombing victims—followed by a moment of silence at exactly 8:15 a.m., the time of the blast.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered a declaration of peace, calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and warning of rising global militarism. “Among the world’s political leaders, there is a growing belief that possessing nuclear weapons is unavoidable in order to protect their own countries,” Matsui said. He noted that the United States and Russia continue to possess about 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads.
“This situation not only nullifies the lessons the international community has learned from the tragic history of the past,” he added, “but also seriously undermines the frameworks that have been built for peace-building.”
The event featured participation from schoolchildren across Japan, who read the “Promise of Peace,” sharing messages of remembrance and hope. A representative of UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the gathering, reiterating the United Nations’ commitment to global peace and disarmament.
Survivors of the bombing, known as hibakusha, once faced social discrimination due to misconceptions about radiation exposure. Their numbers have now fallen below 100,000 for the first time, underlining the urgency to preserve their testimonies.
Although Japan remains committed to the goal of a nuclear-free world, it has yet to sign the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Al Jazeera reported.
About The Author
