Japan on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, commemorating the victims of one of the deadliest attacks in history while renewing its appeal for the global elimination of nuclear weapons.

A remembrance ceremony was held at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, attended by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and representatives from a record 123 countries and regions. Participants honoured those who lost their lives in the bombing and reiterated the need to pursue lasting peace amid growing international concerns over nuclear security.

Hiroshima Observes Annual Remembrance Ceremony

According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, an updated register of atomic bomb victims was placed inside the cenotaph at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park during the ceremony. The register now contains the names of 353,639 people, including survivors who died over the past year.

Those attending the ceremony observed a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

The annual observance serves as a reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare and honours the victims of the bombing, which remains one of the defining events of the Second World War.

Legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The United States dropped the uranium-based atomic bomb, codenamed “Little Boy”, over Hiroshima, triggering a massive explosion and intense heat that destroyed much of the city. By the end of 1945, an estimated 140,000 people had died as a result of the blast, burns and radiation exposure.

Three days later, on August 9, the United States carried out a second atomic bombing, this time targeting Nagasaki with the bomb known as “Fat Man”. Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing World War II to a close.

According to NHK, many survivors of the bombings, known as hibakusha, have lived with long-term health effects, including cancer and other radiation-related illnesses. As of the end of March this year, around 91,000 hibakushawere still living in Japan, with an average age of 86.

Renewed Appeal for Nuclear Disarmament

NHK reported that hibakusha have spent decades campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons, warning of the devastating humanitarian consequences of their use.

The anniversary comes at a time of heightened global concern over nuclear security. The expiry of the New START Treaty between the United States and Russia in February, along with the failure of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to adopt a final document in May because of tensions in West Asia, has renewed fears about growing nuclear risks.

Against this backdrop, Hiroshima used the 81st anniversary of the bombing to once again call on the international community to work towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and the promotion of lasting global peace, according to NHK.

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