Japan today marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima with a solemn memorial ceremony. People around the world observed a moment of silence at 8:15 a.m. Japan Standard Time, the exact moment the uranium bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy,” was dropped on the city.
The attack instantly killed an estimated 78,000 people, with the death toll rising to approximately 140,000 by the end of 1945 due to burns and radiation exposure. The bombing was followed three days later by a second atomic bomb, “Fat Man,” dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, which killed an estimated 74,000 people. These remain the only two uses of nuclear weapons in warfare.
At the memorial, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba laid a wreath at the cenotaph and called on all countries to work towards nuclear disarmament. In his address, he reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” and emphasized the country’s unique responsibility to lead the global effort for a world without nuclear weapons.
The ceremony also included a peace declaration from Hiroshima’s mayor, Kazumi Matsui, who warned of the dangers of rising global militarism and criticized leaders who believe that possessing nuclear weapons is a necessity for national security. The event was attended by officials and representatives from a record number of countries and regions, as well as survivors of the bombings, known as hibakusha.
