Officials mark 80th anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombing

A silent prayer was held in Japan on Wednesday morning to mark 80 years since the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and officials from around the world attended the ceremony, along with Hiroshima's mayor Kazumi Matsui.

Matsui warned of a global trend towards military build-up and the belief that nuclear weapons are necessary for national defense, emphasizing the importance of learning from history's tragedies.

The bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan's surrender and claimed over 200,000 lives from immediate blasts, radiation sickness, and burns.

Survivors of the bombings still carry the emotional and physical scars today, with one survivor, Shingo Naito, sharing his story with students in Hiroshima.

In 2024, Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.

Mayor Matsui urged the Japanese government to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to ban nuclear weapons and promote peaceful nuclear energy use.

While over 70 countries have ratified the treaty, nuclear powers like the US and Russia have opposed it, citing the deterrence role of nuclear arsenals.

The nuclear issue remains contentious in Japan, with calls for nuclear disarmament evident in protests near the Peace Memorial Park.

Survivor Satoshi Tanaka, who suffered from radiation-induced cancers, expressed concern over current conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by nuclear weapons.

Tanaka emphasized the need for global outrage and action to pressure leaders of nuclear-armed nations to address the dangers of nuclear weapons.