Hiroshima Marks 80 Years Since Atomic Bombing as Survivors Urge Nuclear Disarmament

Japan marked 80 years since the Hiroshima bombing with solemn ceremonies and renewed calls for nuclear disarmament. Survivors criticised Japan’s nuclear policy and refusal to support global treaties. Amid global tensions and declining survivor numbers, the event highlighted urgent pleas to prevent a new nuclear arms race.

Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Wednesday, with survivors and officials gathering at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to remember the victims and call for a world free of nuclear weapons. At 8.15am, the exact moment the bomb detonated in 1945, a minute’s silence was observed. The blast killed nearly 140,000 people, with thousands more dying later from injuries and radiation.

The ceremony was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, and several survivors of the bombing. Flowers were laid at the cenotaph, and tributes were paid at sunrise, hours before the formal event. The day remains a painful reminder of the devastating power of nuclear weapons, particularly amid current global tensions and the growing threat of nuclear conflict.

Survivor groups expressed deep frustration over Japan’s continued reliance on the US nuclear umbrella and its refusal to sign or even observe the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Many feel that Japan’s commitment to disarmament is symbolic rather than sincere, especially as the government pays compensation only to war veterans, not civilian victims of the bombings.

Adding to the concern, recent geopolitical developments, including Russia’s threats during the Ukraine invasion and the expansion of nuclear capabilities among major powers, have reignited global fears of a new arms race. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recently warned of weakening arms control frameworks and renewed nuclear modernisation across all nine nuclear states.

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With the average age of atomic bomb survivors now over 86, this year’s ceremony may be the last major milestone for many. Survivor groups like Nihon Hidankyo, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024, continue to push for global nuclear disarmament, urging world leaders to break the cycle of silence and truly commit to peace.