The Japanese city of Hiroshima has called on world leaders to intensify efforts toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons as it marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. During the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned that growing reliance on nuclear deterrence and rising geopolitical tensions are increasing the risk of another nuclear catastrophe.
Around 50,000 people, including survivors of the bombing, representatives from more than 120 countries, and international organizations, gathered at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. A minute of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact moment the atomic bomb exploded over the city in 1945, killing tens of thousands of people and devastating Hiroshima.
In his Peace Declaration, Mayor Matsui urged political leaders to reject the idea that nuclear weapons can guarantee security. He argued that accepting nuclear arms as tools of deterrence risks creating a cycle of confrontation that could ultimately lead to another tragedy like Hiroshima or Nagasaki. He also called on younger generations to continue advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to pursuing nuclear disarmament through international cooperation while acknowledging the increasingly difficult global security environment. At the same time, the government continues to rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella and has not joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a position that remains controversial among many survivors.
In a message delivered to the ceremony, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the international safeguards preventing nuclear conflict are under growing strain. He called on all nuclear-armed states to reduce risks, strengthen dialogue, and work toward complete nuclear disarmament, stressing that lasting peace must be built through cooperation rather than fear.
The ceremony ended with renewed appeals to preserve the testimony of the hibakusha—the survivors of the atomic bombings—as their numbers continue to decline. Participants emphasized that the lessons of Hiroshima remain relevant as global tensions and nuclear risks continue to rise.
Sources: AP, Reuters, United Nations, Kyodo News.
