Hiroshima marks 81st anniversary of atomic bombing
Hiroshima on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with its mayor criticizing major powers for waging wars and urging them to stop justifying the possession of nuclear weapons as a method of deterrence, reports BritPanorama.
“Downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue one’s own prosperity risk cycles of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki,” Mayor Kazumi Matsui said during the peace declaration at a ceremony at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Matsui noted that too many political leaders still consider nuclear deterrence a realistic approach, which “simply pushes a world without nuclear weapons further into the distance.” He emphasized the need for citizens to learn lessons from the past and take action.
Approximately 50,000 people attended the ceremony, including representatives from around 120 countries and regions, such as the United States and Iran. Attendees observed a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the moment the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, marking her first appearance at the memorial in her current role, stated her intention to take “a realistic approach” toward achieving a world where nuclear weapons are never used, consistent with the United Nations’ treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
This year’s commemoration occurs amid speculation surrounding Takaichi’s hawkish government, which supports nuclear deterrence. The administration is expected to review Japan’s three non-nuclear principles when it releases new security and defense documents later this year.
Takaichi has suggested the possibility of modifying these principles, particularly the third one regarding the prohibition of nuclear weapons entering the country. While she reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to these principles, she did not indicate a firm commitment to maintain the policy moving forward.
Survivors of the bombing have expressed concern about the growing acceptance of nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence within the international community, including Japan itself.
Japan relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for security, frequently seeking assurances from Washington regarding its commitments. This reliance has resulted in the Japanese government rejecting survivors’ requests to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or to participate in its meetings as observers.
The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, resulted in the deaths of approximately 140,000 people, with a subsequent bombing in Nagasaki three days later claiming another 70,000 lives. Japan’s surrender on Aug. 15 marked the end of World War II and its decades-long aggression in Asia.
The number of survivors has now dwindled to 91,105, with their average age exceeding 86 years. Concerns are rising over fading memories among the dwindling population, as the youngest survivors were too young to remember the attack clearly.
“The horror of nuclear weapons is just one lesson of Hiroshima. Another is the need to build a world in which the threat or use of these weapons becomes unthinkable,” stated United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a written statement.
Guterres added that “Hiroshima stands as an inspiring example of resilience, renewal and hope,” urging dialogue over division and cooperation over confrontation. The enduring lessons from Hiroshima remain as critical today as ever, underscoring a global commitment to peace and security.
