U.S. atomic bombing on Hiroshima commemorated by Japan, marking 80 years since the tragic event - Marking the 80th anniversary, Japan pays tribute to those affected by the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima
In the shadow of growing global tensions and conflicts, world leaders gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the city's tragic atomic bombing. The event served as a solemn reminder of the horrors of nuclear war and an urgent call for a world free of nuclear weapons.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba led the way, expressing profound condolences and emphasizing Japan's commitment to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles." He underscored that as the only country to have suffered nuclear devastation in war, it is Japan's responsibility to "take the lead in the path towards a world without nuclear weapons."
Similarly, German Foreign Minister Wadephul condemned Russia's nuclear blackmail, stressed the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and recognized the need to strengthen deterrence and defense capabilities alongside promoting international order.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) underscored that despite 80 years since the bombings, the world still faces a terrifying risk of nuclear weapon use. The ICRC urged governments to educate future generations on the catastrophic impacts of nuclear weapons to honor the survivors and victims.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted hope through global commitments like the Pact for the Future and renewed momentum in disarmament frameworks, including the NPT and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. He called on countries to honor the hibakusha (survivors) by translating commitments into real disarmament progress.
The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which claimed the lives of about 140,000 people in the first months after the attack, are still vivid in the minds of the survivors. As of March, there were still 99,130 "Hibakusha" in Japan. The Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, represents the dwindling number of survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Pope Leo XIV declared that Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain "living monuments to the profound horrors" caused by nuclear weapons. The mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, warned about an accelerating global military buildup, while the spokesperson for President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned about the need to never forget the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This year's memorial ceremony in Hiroshima was attended by representatives from 120 countries and regions, including the EU. Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, urged foreign envoys to visit the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima to understand the events that occurred.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) warned in June that a "dangerous new nuclear arms race is emerging" as almost all of the nine nuclear-armed states are modernizing their arsenals. Steinmeier appealed to the international community to prevent the horrors of a renewed use of nuclear weapons.
The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which occurred 80 years ago by the USA, serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear war. The ongoing global concern about nuclear weapons, condemning military escalations involving nuclear threats, supporting disarmament treaties, remembering the victims of past nuclear bombings, and urging international cooperation to prevent nuclear war while acknowledging current security challenges, echoed in the statements of world leaders.
- Cerstin Gamlin, a representative from the EU, during the memorial ceremony in Hiroshima, expressed concern about the escalating global military buildup and emphasized the EU's commitment to promoting peace, politics, and general-news discussions aimed at preventing any war-and-conflicts that involve nuclear threats.
- Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, emphasized the need for Kazumi Matsui, the mayor of Hiroshima, and other world leaders to remember the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the USA, 80 years ago, as they work towards a world free of nuclear weapons, reinforcing Japan's stance on politics, disarmament treaties, and war-and-conflicts.
