Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing with calls for renewed efforts towards nuclear disarmament, as global leaders and representatives gathered at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
In his peace declaration, Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticised reliance on nuclear deterrence, warning that accepting force and nuclear weapons risks future conflict. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan would pursue “a realistic approach” to preventing the use of nuclear weapons within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Key developments:
Around 50,000 people from approximately 120 countries and regions attended the ceremony.
A minute of silence marked 8:15 a.m., when Hiroshima was bombed on 6 August 1945.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed calls for dialogue, cooperation and a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
Click to subscribe to the Weekly Brief by tut0ughThe preserved Atomic Bomb Dome stands as people pray in front of the cenotaph for the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing, in Hiroshima, western Japan, August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Hiroshima marks 81st atomic bombing anniversary as Takaichi backs world without nuclear weapons
