06 Aug 2025, 12:08
Japan Honors the Victims of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
- In Hiroshima, they commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
- The mayor of the city called for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
- The number of living witnesses is decreasing, with an average age of 86 years.
On August 6, 2025, Japan will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which occurred on August 6, 1945. On that day at 8:15 AM, at the moment of the explosion, a wave of silence passed through Hiroshima. Thousands of people gathered at the ceremony, including representatives from 120 countries.
Mayor of Hiroshima Kazumi Matsui drew attention in his speech to the increasing support for nuclear disarmament among world leaders, particularly in the context of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He emphasized that these events ignore the lessons of history, and called on the youth to recognize the need for nuclear disarmament.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the importance of Japan's role in the direction of global disarmament. Japan, as the only country that suffered a nuclear attack, has a mission to bring the world to a future without nuclear weapons.
According to recent studies, the number of living witnesses - hibakusha - is decreasing, with their average age surpassing 86 years. On the anniversary, it was reported that there were 4,940 deceased hibakusha, who passed away over the course of the year.
Reminding of the horrors of war, participants of the ceremony released white doves into the sky, a symbol of peace. It was also mentioned about the Nihon Hidankyo, a group of hibakusha that received the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in the direction of nuclear disarmament.
Hiroshima remains a symbol of the need for nuclear disarmament, and many participants of the ceremony express concern about the increasing nuclear threats in the modern world.