Japan remembers Hiroshima, 80 years on
Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6 with a solemn ceremony recalling the devastation caused by the world’s first nuclear attack.
At 8:15 a.m. local time, a moment of silence was observed to mark the exact moment on August 6, 1945, when the US aircraft Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb known as “Little Boy” over the western Japanese city.
Hundreds of participants — including government officials, students, and atomic bomb survivors — gathered at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to remember the bombing, which contributed not only to Japan’s surrender at the end of World War 2 but also to the start of the global nuclear arms race.
Flowers were laid at the cenotaph, with the ruins of the Atomic Bomb Dome visible in the background.
Local residents and younger generations shared their thoughts during the commemoration.
“In order for us to move forward, we need to pay our respects and gratitude to those who have rebuilt the city, and I think it's important for us to continue to develop Hiroshima, the world and Japan,” said 62-year-old Kozo Morien, a resident of Hiroshima.
Risa Kobayashi, whose grandmother survived the bombing, emphasised the importance of preserving Hiroshima’s story for future generations.
“My grandmother was also a victim, but she is getting older, and the number of people who have experienced it is decreasing. So, unless young people go out and tell their stories, I think in less than 20 years there will be no one left who can tell their stories,” the 18-year-old Hiroshima student told AFP in an interview.
The Hiroshima anniversary takes place amid ongoing concerns about nuclear proliferation and the risk of conflict involving nuclear-armed states such as the US and Russia.
For Morien, ongoing geopolitical tensions highlight the need for Japan to strengthen its defences to prevent another catastrophe like Hiroshima.
“Regardless of whether we have nuclear weapons or not, there's no doubt that nuclear weapons are a deterrent in reality. They act as a deterrent to prevent war. That's why Ukraine ended up like that. Japan is surrounded by three nuclear-powered countries — China, North Korea and Russia — so I think it's necessary for us to strengthen our defence capabilities to prevent the use of nuclear weapons.”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
