Hiroshima [Japan], August 6 (ANI): Japan solemnly marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Wednesday, with thousands gathering at the Peace Memorial Park to remember the victims and renew global appeals for nuclear disarmament. The commemoration was attended by survivors (hibakusha), school children, global leaders, and representatives from 120 countries and territories.
On August 6, 1945, during the final days of World War II, the United States dropped a uranium bomb—codenamed Little Boy—on Hiroshima, killing approximately 78,000 people instantly. By the end of that year, the death toll had risen to around 140,000 due to burns, radiation exposure, and injuries. Just three days later, the city of Nagasaki was devastated by a second atomic bomb. These bombings led to Japan’s surrender on August 15, bringing the war to an end.
At the commemorative ceremony held at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park—located near the epicenter of the explosion—attendees observed a moment of silence at exactly 8:15 AM, the time the bomb detonated eight decades ago. Flowers and water were offered in remembrance of those who suffered and died.
Al Jazeera’s Fadi Salameh, reporting from the scene, noted that the ceremony followed traditions established over the years: “It starts with offerings from children and citizens, then the moment of silence, followed by a peace declaration from the mayor of Hiroshima, calling for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.”
School children from across Japan read the “Promise of Peace,” delivering messages of remembrance and hope. A statement from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also read, urging continued efforts toward international peace and nuclear disarmament.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned of rising global militarism and criticized world leaders who argue that nuclear weapons are essential for national security. “Among the world’s political leaders, there is a growing belief that possessing nuclear weapons is unavoidable to protect their own countries,” Matsui said. He added that the United States and Russia still hold about 90 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal.
“This situation not only nullifies the lessons the international community has learned from the tragic history of the past, but also seriously undermines the frameworks that have been built for peace-building,” Matsui said. “To all the leaders around the world: please visit Hiroshima and witness for yourselves the reality of the atomic bombing.”
The number of atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha, has now fallen below 100,000 for the first time. Many of them once faced discrimination due to fears of disease and genetic consequences stemming from radiation exposure.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, speaking after attending the ceremony, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to peace and disarmament. He offered condolences to the victims and emphasized Japan’s unique responsibility to communicate the horrors of nuclear warfare to the world.
“Today, I attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima City. Eighty years have passed since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, turning this city into a scorched wasteland in an instant, and I respectfully offered my sincere condolences to the spirits of those who lost their lives,” Ishiba said in a post on X.
He added that he had also visited the Peace Memorial Museum, reaffirming Japan’s role in passing down the memory of the bombing and leading international efforts to prevent a repeat of such devastation. He met with survivors to discuss continued support measures, implementation of the Hiroshima Action Plan, and expansion of the Peace Memorial Museum.
“The government firmly maintains the three non-nuclear principles, and we have no plans to review them,” Ishiba stated. He reaffirmed that Japan will not possess, produce, or allow nuclear weapons on its territory.
However, he also acknowledged the need to strengthen extended deterrence through Japan’s alliance with the United States—without undermining its long-term goal of achieving a nuclear-free world. “This does not contradict our stance to ultimately realize a world free of nuclear weapons,” said Ishiba, who previously served as defence minister.
Despite its advocacy for disarmament, Japan remains outside the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, continuing to rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its national security.
The 80th anniversary served as both a solemn remembrance and a renewed global call for disarmament in an increasingly volatile international landscape. (ANI)
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