Hiroshima Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing Amid Calls for Nuclear Disarmament

On August 6, 2025, Hiroshima observed the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing that devastated the city in 1945. A solemn ceremony was held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, attended by over 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions. A minute of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the bomb was dropped, to honor the estimated 140,000 victims who perished by the end of that year.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui addressed the gathering, expressing concern over the global trend toward military build-up and the increasing reliance on nuclear weapons for national defense. He urged policymakers worldwide to pursue dialogue for security instead of possessing nuclear weapons.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated Japan's commitment to a world without nuclear weapons but stopped short of endorsing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, reflecting Japan's reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence.

Pope Leo XIV condemned the concept of nuclear deterrence, calling it an "illusory security" and urging for dialogue over mutual destruction.

The ceremony also highlighted the diminishing number of hibakusha, or survivors, whose average age now exceeds 86. Their testimonies continue to serve as powerful reminders of the horrors of nuclear warfare and the importance of peace.

The United Nations Secretary-General, in a message delivered by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, warned that "the risk of nuclear conflict is growing" and emphasized the need to strengthen the global disarmament regime.

This commemoration served as a poignant reminder of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons and the ongoing efforts required to achieve global disarmament.