Tokyo, Aug. 6, 2025 (dpa/NAN) The Japanese city of Hiroshima on Wednesday commemorated 80 years since the U.S. atomic bombing of Aug. 6, 1945, amid growing global concerns over nuclear conflict.
At a memorial ceremony, Mayor Kazumi Matsui urged younger generations to continue the fight against nuclear weapons, warning that misguided policies on defense and nuclear arms could have devastating consequences.
At 8:15 a.m., the moment the atomic bomb “Little Boy” was dropped, attendees observed a minute of silence.
By the end of 1945, an estimated 140,000 people had died from the blast and its aftermath.
Three days after Hiroshima, the U.S. dropped another bomb on Nagasaki, prompting Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that nuclear weapons were again being used as tools of geopolitical pressure.
In 2024, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyō, an organisation representing atomic bomb survivors.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated Japan’s commitment to its non-nuclear principles.
Still, in response to threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, Japan is significantly boosting its military capabilities, fueling debate about whether the country should consider arming itself with nuclear weapons.
Experts like Prof. MG Sheftall had raised concerns over Japan’s fading pacifist values, noting a decline in peace education.
He warned that many young Japanese now learn about the war mostly through manga, TV dramas, or online content, as official war education continues to erode. (dpa/NAN)
