HIROSHIMA, Japan — On Wednesday, Hiroshima commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, an event that devastated the city and claimed the lives of 140,000 people.
The anniversary brings forward poignant reflections from aging survivors, many of whom expressed frustration and dismay at the growing global support for nuclear weapons in the name of deterrence.
With the average age of survivors now exceeding 86 and the number rapidly diminishing, Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, shared his concerns.
“There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,” Suzuto said after kneeling to pray at the cenotaph.
He emphasized his desire to share his story and the lessons learned from the bombing, highlighting the urgency of his mission.
The devastation wrought by the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945, led to a second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki just three days later, after which Japan surrendered on August 15, marking the end of World War II and an era of aggression in Asia.
Hiroshima’s Mayor, Kazumi Matsui, addressed the significant risks posed by the international community’s increasing acceptance of military buildups and the juxtaposition between nuclear weapons and national security amidst current global conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
He warned that the lessons learned from such tragedies should not be disregarded, noting, “These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history.”
Matsui’s concerns resonate deeply with aging survivors.
Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization of survivors and recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need to challenge nuclear weapons states.
“We don’t have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,” they stated, urging action against the indifference of nuclear powers.
The ceremony attracted approximately 55,000 attendees, including representatives from a record 120 nations and regions, some of whom came from countries currently amid geopolitical tensions, like Russia and Belarus.
A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time when the bomb was dropped, as a peace bell rang.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, along with various officials, laid flowers at the cenotaph in honor of the victims.
Dozens of white doves, a universal symbol of peace, were released following the mayor’s speech, adding a moment of hope to the somber occasion.
Earlier in the day, survivors and their families paid tribute at the Peace Memorial Park.
Kazuo Miyoshi, a 74-year-old retiree, came to honor relatives lost in the bombing and implored that such a tragic mistake should never be repeated.
Miyoshi said, “We do not need nuclear weapons,” reflecting a sentiment echoed widely among the survivors present.
In a statement read by U.N. Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized the hopeful message of Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel recognition.
Guterres underscored the need to carry forward the survivors’ testimonies and messages of peace, stating, “Remembering the past is about protecting and building peace today and in the future.”
In contrast to the commemorative events, protests erupted near Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome, featuring over 200 demonstrators advocating against nuclear weapons and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Despite calls for peace, some survivors remain dishearteningly aware of the current global sentiment towards nuclear armament, especially as President Donald Trump justified military actions against Iran by referencing the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Kosei Mito, a 79-year-old survivor who experienced radiation exposure in utero, voiced his frustration over such comparisons.
He remarked, “It’s ridiculous. I don’t think we can get rid of nuclear weapons as long as it was justified by the assailant.”
In the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for those affected by the atomic bomb, labeling the event as a universal warning about the dangers of wars and nuclear weapons.
Amidst these reflections, Japan remains tethered to its reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for national defense, a stance that has led to a rejection of calls from survivors to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
During the ceremony, Mayor Matsui reiterated the call for Japan to sign and ratify this treaty, while survivors expressed hope for meaningful recognition of their pleas for nuclear abolishment.
Prime Minister Ishiba, in response, reiterated the commitment to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons but did not address the treaty directly, emphasizing the necessity of deterrence given Japan’s geographical context.
While past prime ministers have voiced Japan’s unique perspective as the only nation to endure nuclear attacks, survivors feel that the promise of peace has yet to translate into concrete action.
The Japanese government has limited compensation to war veterans, leaving a gap in acknowledgment for civilian victims of the atomic bombings, including calls for the U.S. to accept responsibility for the profound loss of life.
As Hiroshima reflects on its tragic past, the conversations surrounding nuclear weapons and their impact on peace continue to grapple with the realities of a world still laced with conflict and the threat of annihilation.
image source from：npr
