Japan on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as survivors voiced renewed urgency for global nuclear disarmament amid rising geopolitical tensions.
At exactly 8:15 a.m. local time (23:15 GMT), the moment the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb “Little Boy” on August 6, 1945, a peace bell rang out and attendees observed a minute of silence in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The bombing claimed at least 140,000 lives, with many dying instantly or from radiation-related illnesses in the aftermath.
Among those gathered were representatives from over 120 countries, including Russia and Belarus, in a powerful display of remembrance despite ongoing global divisions.
Survivors, known as hibakusha, expressed frustration over the persistent reliance on nuclear deterrence strategies. The group Nihon Hidankyo, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning Japanese organization of survivors, warned that time is running out.
“We don’t have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,” the group stated.
They highlighted the indifference of nuclear-armed nations as the greatest obstacle to a world without atomic weapons, urging for policy shifts and global solidarity.
Just three days after Hiroshima, the U.S. dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 70,000 people. Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, ended World War II and brought an end to its militaristic expansion in Asia.
As the world reflects on the devastation of nuclear warfare, Japan continues to champion peace and disarmament, reaffirming its post-war constitution’s pacifist stance amid today’s growing calls for military buildup.
