Hiroshima Marks 81st Atomic Bomb Anniversary, Mayor Warns Against Nuclear Deterrence

Japan's Hiroshima commemorated the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing with a solemn peace ceremony attended by thousands of people, including representatives from over 120 countries.

At exactly 8:15 AM, the moment the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, a minute of silence was observed as the Peace Bell rang across Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The ceremony honoured the victims while renewing calls for global nuclear disarmament.

Mayor Kazumi Matsui Criticises Nuclear Deterrence

In his annual Peace Declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui strongly criticised the continued reliance on nuclear weapons by major powers.

He warned that treating nuclear arms as legitimate tools of deterrence and relying on military force increases the risk of repeating tragedies like Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Matsui urged world leaders to reject violence, strengthen diplomacy, and work toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons before history repeats itself.

Japan Signals 'Realistic' Nuclear Policy

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending the Hiroshima memorial as Prime Minister for the first time, reiterated Japan's commitment to preventing the use of nuclear weapons.

However, she also emphasized pursuing a "realistic approach" under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Her remarks come amid growing debate over whether Japan's government may review its long-standing Three Non-Nuclear Principles in upcoming national security and defence policy documents.

Survivors Fear Lessons of 1945 Are Being Forgotten

Atomic bomb survivors, known as Hibakusha, expressed concern that global support for nuclear deterrence is growing despite the devastating lessons of World War II.

Many survivors continue to urge Japan to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a move successive governments have declined due to the country's security alliance under the US nuclear umbrella.

According to official figures, only 91,105 survivors remain today, with their average age now exceeding 86 years, raising concerns that first-hand memories of the bombings could soon disappear.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of 1945. Three days later, a second atomic bomb destroyed Nagasaki, killing around 70,000 people.

Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing World War II to an end.

More than eight decades later, Hiroshima continues to serve as a global symbol of peace and the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear warfare.