Hiroshima Marks 80 Years Since Atomic Bombing
Hiroshima, a city forever etched into the world’s memory, marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing on Wednesday morning with a moment of silent prayer. The somber event serves not only as a remembrance of the immense human suffering caused by the nuclear attack but also as a stark warning against the continued threat of nuclear warfare in our modern world.
The bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, by the United States, changed the course of history. It marked the dawn of the nuclear age, introduced humanity to a weapon of unprecedented destruction, and left behind scars that are still visible—both physically and emotionally—in the survivors and in the city itself.
A Global Ceremony of Remembrance
The 80th anniversary ceremony saw the attendance of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, and officials and diplomats from around the globe. The event was held at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocenter of the bombing, where the Genbaku Dome—a skeletal structure that miraculously survived the blast—still stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of peace.
During the ceremony, participants bowed their heads in silence at 8:15 AM, the exact time when the atomic bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy”, detonated over the city. The silence was more than a moment—it was a collective call for peace and nuclear disarmament.
Mayor Matsui’s Powerful Warning
In his speech, Mayor Kazumi Matsui issued a chilling reminder about the direction the world is heading:
“There is an accelerating trend toward military build-up… and the idea that nuclear weapons are essential for national defence.”
He added that this mindset reflects a “flagrant disregard of the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history.“
His words come amid rising global tensions, with nations investing billions into modernizing their arsenals and a growing acceptance of nuclear deterrence as a legitimate strategy.
The Devastating Impact of the Bomb
The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima instantly killed tens of thousands, with the death toll eventually exceeding 200,000 as radiation sickness, burns, and long-term illnesses took more lives over the months and years that followed.
Many died instantly, vaporized or crushed under falling buildings. Others suffered slow and excruciating deaths from radiation exposure, developing cancers and deformities, with survivors—known as hibakusha—enduring both physical pain and social discrimination for decades.
One such survivor is Shingo Naito, who was only six years old when the bomb dropped. He shared his story with 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.”
Shingo lost not only his father but also his two younger siblings in the attack. Today, he’s working with a group of students in Hiroshima, who are transforming his painful memories into art, ensuring that new generations never forget.
Peace Advocacy and the Nobel Peace Prize
In 2024, Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its decades-long advocacy to eliminate nuclear weapons.
The group has been instrumental in educating the public, lobbying governments, and standing as living reminders of nuclear war’s horrors. The Nobel Committee recognized their courage and persistence, calling attention to a cause that often gets buried under geopolitical interests.
The Crisis of Nuclear Treaties
Mayor Matsui expressed grave concern over the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), calling it “on the brink of dysfunctionality.”
The NPT, which came into force in 1970, was designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament, and ensure peaceful use of nuclear technology. However, progress has stalled, and many fear the treaty is now a hollow promise, as nuclear-armed states show little intention to disarm.
Mayor Matsui also called on the Japanese government to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a global agreement that bans the use, development, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. The treaty came into force in 2021, and while over 70 countries have ratified it, none of the world’s nine nuclear-armed states—including the US, Russia, China, and North Korea—have signed on.
Japan, despite being the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, has also not ratified the treaty, arguing that its national security depends on US nuclear protection.
Public Protests and Growing Voices
The nuclear issue remains deeply divisive in Japanese society. On the streets leading to Peace Memorial Park, several small-scale protests called for the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.
Young people, elderly survivors, peace activists, and religious leaders gathered, holding signs and chanting slogans that underscored the urgency of nuclear disarmament.
These protests are growing in number and passion every year, as people become increasingly disillusioned with government inaction and global hypocrisy on nuclear issues.
Survivor Reflections on Current Global Conflicts
Another survivor, Satoshi Tanaka, who has suffered multiple cancers due to radiation, drew powerful parallels between his past and today’s violent conflicts:
“Seeing the mountains of rubble, the destroyed cities, the children and women fleeing in panic – it all brings back memories of what I went through.”
Tanaka was referencing the devastation in Gaza and Ukraine, where modern warfare continues to displace, injure, and kill civilians. He warned about the fragile balance of peace and the risk posed by thousands of active nuclear warheads worldwide:
“We are living alongside nuclear weapons that could wipe out humanity multiple times over.”
A Global Call to Action
Tanaka, like many survivors, believes the solution lies not only in diplomacy but in massive global action:
“The most urgent priority is to push the leaders of nuclear-armed countries. The people of the world must become even more outraged, raise their voices louder, and take massive action.”
This message is more relevant than ever. With increasing military alliances, nuclear modernization programs, and rising nationalism, the threat of nuclear war has not diminished—it has evolved.
Why Hiroshima Still Matters Today
The memory of Hiroshima is more than historical—it is a warning.
It reminds us that technological advancement without ethics, war without diplomacy, and power without compassion can lead to unimaginable suffering. Hiroshima’s peace movement shows the world that remembering history is key to not repeating it.
As world leaders continue to clash and conflicts erupt across the globe, the voices of survivors like Naito and Tanaka, and the symbolic resilience of Hiroshima, urge us all to choose peace over power, dialogue over destruction, and humanity over hatred.
Never Again
The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is not just a moment of reflection—it’s a call to action.
As we remember those who died and honor those who survived, we must also take up their mantle and work toward a future where nuclear weapons are no longer seen as tools of security but relics of human failure.
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