On Wednesday morning, Japan marked with a solemn ceremony at the commemoration of the 80 years of atomic bombing against Hiroshima. A silent prayer was read at 8:15 am; this was when the US aircraft Enola Gay carried out its attack by dropping the bomb known as Little Boy on the city on August 6, 1945.
World Leaders Gather for Historic Ceremony
Other global officials also attended the ceremony, which included Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (Japan). Mayor Kazumi Matsui led the commemorations held in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. It was attended by more than any past edition, with 120 countries and regions represented, including representatives of Taiwanese and Palestinians.
Being the representative of the United States, it possessed its ambassador to Japan. Organisers were only ascertaining earlier this week that Russia and China did not attend the ceremony.
Mayor Issues Warning About Nuclear Arms Race
Mayor Matsui delivered a speech warning about the current global climate. He highlighted an “accelerating trend toward military build-up” and concerns about nations viewing nuclear weapons as essential for defence. Matsui described this mindset as “flagrant disregard” for lessons the international community should have learned from history.
The mayor declared that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty stands “on the brink of dysfunctionality”. He urged the Japanese government to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into force in 2021.
Devastating Impact Continues to Haunt Survivors
The atomic bombs killed more than 200,000 people across Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima’s final death toll reached approximately 140,000 people. Nagasaki lost 74,000 residents three days later on August 9, 1945.
Survivors continue to share their experiences with younger generations. Hiroshima survivor Shingo Naito recounted his father’s injuries to the BBC. “My father was badly burned and blinded by the blast. His skin was hanging from his body – he couldn’t even hold my hand,” Naito explained. The blast killed his father and two younger siblings when Naito was just six years old.
The mushroom cloud formed after an atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945
Nobel Prize Winners Represent Dwindling Survivor Community
In 2024, the grassroots organisation of atomic bomb victims, Nihon Hidankyo, received the Nobel Peace Prize. The group underlines the idea of making the world free of nuclear weapons and it also represented the hibakusha in the ceremony held on Wednesday.
The latest official figures given by the Japanese health ministry are 99,130 as of March, hibakusha. The aged have an average of 86 years old survivors. One of the co-chairs, Toshiyuki Mimaki, urged foreign envoys to visit the peace memorial museum to gain an understanding of the impact of the bombing.
Expert Argues Bombs Were Unnecessary
Novelist and speechwriter Dennis Glover challenged the necessity of using atomic weapons against Japan. He argued that Japan was “militarily defeated” before the bombs were dropped and surrender was merely a matter of time.
“The bombs were dropped in some ways to speed up the surrender but they weren’t necessary to get Japan to surrender in the foreseeable future,” Glover told news.com.au. He suggested Japan’s refusal to surrender stemmed from concerns about Emperor Hirohito’s future role.
Glover identified several factors behind President Harry Truman’s decision to authorise the bombings. These included imprecise information, emotional revenge motives, war weariness among American citizens, and efforts to prevent Soviet invasion of Japanese territory.
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Survivors Connect Past Trauma to Current Conflicts
Having received several cancers as a result of being exposed to an atomic bomb, Satoshi Tanaka, a survivor, finds a comparison of his experience with what is going on globally as far as wars are concerned. Looking into the pics of rubble mountains, wrecked urban landscapes, frightened children and women running away, and seeing all this triggers Tanaka to recollect what he has experienced.
He underlined the necessity of the nuclear disarmament work. The nuclear-armed nations’ leaders are the most pressing priority to be urged. The actions of the world’s people should become even stronger, their voices should become louder, and make a gigantic action as Tanaka said.
Nuclear Weapons Remain Divisive Issue in Japan
Japan maintains a complex relationship with nuclear weapons policy. The nation benefits from US nuclear deterrence while hosting peace ceremonies calling for global disarmament. Small protests near Peace Memorial Park called for the abolition of nuclear weapons during Wednesday’s commemorations.
Survivor Kunihiko Sakuma, now 80, expressed optimism about future generations. “I think the global trend of seeking a nuclear-free world will continue. The younger generation is working hard for that end,” Sakuma said before the ceremony.
The United States has never formally apologised for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
