Hiroshima: Thousands of people gathered in Hiroshima on Thursday to mark the 81st anniversary of the world's first wartime atomic bombing, with survivors, political leaders and visitors from around the world calling for stronger efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons and prevent another nuclear tragedy.
Around 50,000 people attended the annual memorial ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where the United States dropped the atomic bomb on the city at 8.15 am on Aug. 6, 1945. The ceremony paused for a minute of silence at that exact moment as the Peace Bell rang across the city in memory of the victims.
Representatives from about 120 countries and regions, including the United States and Iran, joined survivors known as hibakusha, bereaved families and residents to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. The event also served as a reminder of the continuing dangers posed by nuclear weapons at a time of growing international conflicts and military tensions.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui used his annual Peace Declaration to urge world leaders to reject the growing belief that nuclear weapons provide security. He warned that relying on nuclear deterrence and military strength increases the risk of another catastrophic disaster.
Matsui said many governments continue to justify nuclear weapons as essential for national defence, making it more difficult to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear arms. He appealed to political leaders to choose dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation and to work together to reduce global tensions.
The mayor also expressed concern that younger generations who did not experience war firsthand may gradually lose sight of the devastating human cost of nuclear weapons. He said the stories of survivors must continue to be shared so future generations understand the consequences of nuclear conflict.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the Hiroshima ceremony and repeated Japan's commitment to ensuring that nuclear weapons are never used again. She said the government would continue pursuing realistic and practical nuclear disarmament efforts through the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty while strengthening international cooperation.
However, some peace campaigners and survivors noted that the Prime Minister did not clearly reaffirm Japan's long standing Three Non Nuclear Principles, which state that the country will not possess, produce or allow nuclear weapons into its territory. The omission has drawn attention as Japan continues discussions on strengthening its security policy in response to an increasingly unstable regional environment.
Many hibakusha attending the ceremony voiced concern over rising global tensions, particularly following Russia's repeated nuclear warnings during the war in Ukraine, North Korea's continued weapons development and increasing military competition involving China and other major powers.
Several survivors also renewed calls for Japan to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They argue that as the only country to have suffered atomic bomb attacks during war, Japan has a unique responsibility to lead international efforts toward complete nuclear disarmament.
Another issue highlighted during this year's memorial was the rapidly declining number of survivors who experienced the bombing firsthand. Government figures show that only about 91,000 registered hibakusha remain alive, with their average age now exceeding 86 years. Many fear that as the survivor generation passes away, the world could lose its most powerful eyewitness accounts of the horrors caused by nuclear weapons.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres sent a message to the ceremony, describing Hiroshima as a symbol of hope and resilience. He said the city reminds humanity that even after immense destruction, people can choose peace instead of conflict. He urged countries to strengthen dialogue, reduce tensions and continue working toward the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killed about 140,000 people by the end of that year through the immediate blast, severe burns and radiation related illnesses. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, causing about 70,000 more deaths. Japan announced its surrender on Aug. 15, bringing World War Two to an end.
As Hiroshima observed another anniversary, the ceremony reflected both remembrance and concern. While survivors continued their decades long appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons, the current global security climate underscored the challenges facing those efforts. Even so, participants said remembering the past remains essential to preventing future generations from experiencing the devastation that nuclear war would bring.