Japan Calls for Nuclear Disarmament on Hiroshima 80th Anniversary
(MENAFN) On Wednesday, Japanese leaders once again called for a world free of nuclear weapons as the nation observed the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s steadfast dedication to global nuclear disarmament, emphasizing the country’s unique experience as the only nation targeted by atomic bombings during wartime, a local broadcaster reported.
"When I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, I renewed my resolve that these unbearable ordeals and memories should not be allowed to fade away and must be handed down through future generations," Ishiba told attendees at a ceremony held at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.
"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," he added later on X.
The memorial event commenced at 8:15 a.m. local time (2315 GMT Tuesday), marking the exact moment when the US dropped the bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
The explosion obliterated the city and resulted in an estimated 140,000 deaths by the end of that year, with thousands more later succumbing to radiation-related illnesses.
This year’s ceremony at Peace Memorial Park drew approximately 55,000 attendees.
Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi placed an updated roster of victims’ names—now totaling 349,246—in the park’s cenotaph.
In his peace declaration, Mayor Kazumi urged world leaders to visit Hiroshima to witness the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons firsthand. He called for the establishment of a new international security system founded on dialogue and mutual trust.
With fewer than 100,000 atomic bombing survivors remaining, their average age surpassing 86, officials and activists have stressed the pressing need to preserve their testimonies for generations to come.
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