Hiroshima commemorates 81 years, mayor urges end to nuclear deterrence rhetoric

Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic strike with a solemn ceremony attended by an estimated 50,000 people representing some 120 countries and regions. Mayor Kazumi Matsui used his peace declaration to criticize major powers that still view nuclear weapons as a deterrent, warning that such attitudes risk another tragedy like Hiroshima or Nagasaki. He urged citizens to learn from history and act against the normalization of nuclear force.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, present in her first official capacity, said Japan would pursue a realistic approach to achieving a world where nuclear weapons are never used, referencing the United Nations non-proliferation treaty. The observance included a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the bomb was dropped, followed by the ringing of a peace bell. Discussions continue over Japan’s post-war non-nuclear principles as the government prepares new security documents later this year.