Hiroshima marks 81 years since atomic bombing, mayor urges world to reject nuclear arms
About 50,000 people attended the ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, joined by representatives from some 120 countries and territories.
HIROSHIMA – Hiroshima on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the United States atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with its mayor criticising major powers that wage war and urging them to stop justifying the possession of nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
Mayor Kazumi Matsui also called on every citizen to learn from history and take action.
"Taking lightly the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force in pursuit of one's own prosperity risks triggering a cycle of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki," he said in his peace declaration at the ceremony in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
"Far too many political leaders still regard nuclear retaliatory threat strategies as a realistic approach and legitimise violence, which only pushes further away efforts to realise a world without nuclear weapons," he added. (Quotes translated.)
About 50,000 people, along with representatives from some 120 countries and territories including the US and Iran, attended the ceremony.
A minute of silent prayer was observed as peace bells rang at 8.15am local time – the moment a US B-29 bomber dropped the atomic bomb on the city.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending the memorial ceremony for the first time as national leader, said she would take a realistic approach to ensure the world never again uses nuclear weapons, within the framework of United Nations treaties aimed at preventing their use.
This year's ceremony took place amid growing speculation that Takaichi's government may loosen Japan's postwar three non-nuclear principles as the country drafts new security and defence documents later this year.
Takaichi supports a review of the principles, including possibly dropping the third – which bars the introduction of nuclear weapons into the country. She said Japan still maintains the postwar three non-nuclear principles, but gave no clear commitment to continue adhering to the policy in future.
The Hiroshima bombing on Aug 6, 1945 destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped on Nagasaki three days later killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug 15, ending World War II. – AGENCIES
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