Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing on Thursday, with Mayor Kazumi Matsui urging major powers to cease justifying the possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence. The ceremony took place in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, commemorating the moment on August 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 bomber dropped the atomic bomb.
Matsui stated that downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue prosperity risks cycles of violent retaliation that could lead to another Hiroshima or Nagasaki. He criticized political leaders who consider nuclear deterrence a realistic approach, arguing that it pushes a world free of nuclear weapons further into the distance. Approximately 50,000 people, including representatives from 120 countries, attended the event. A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the time of the bombing.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending the memorial for the first time as prime minister, stated her commitment to a realistic approach toward a world where nuclear weapons are never used, within the framework of the UN treaty on nuclear non-proliferation. However, her government's upcoming security and defense documents may ease Japan's postwar three non-nuclear principles. Takaichi has previously advocated for a review of these principles, which include not permitting nuclear weapons to be brought into the country.
Survivors have voiced frustration and concern over the international community's growing support for nuclear deterrence, including within Japan. Japan relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection and has repeatedly sought assurances from Washington. Consequently, Japan's government has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or attended its meetings as observers.
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed an estimated 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped on Nagasaki three days later resulted in approximately 70,000 deaths. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II.
The number of atomic bomb survivors has decreased to 91,105, with their average age now exceeding 86. Survivors are concerned about fading memories as the youngest among them were too young to clearly recall the attack.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in a written statement, highlighted that the horror of nuclear weapons is one lesson of Hiroshima, and another is the need to build a world where their use is unthinkable. He described Hiroshima as an example of resilience and renewal, urging dialogue over division and cooperation over confrontation.