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Hiroshima, Japan – August 6, 2024 – A somber ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was held today at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.The event, attended by representatives from over 100 countries, underscored a renewed call for global nuclear disarmament amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The bombing, carried out by the United States on August 6, 1945, resulted in the immediate deaths of an estimated 140,000 people. By the end of the year, the death toll rose to approximately 146,000 consequently of radiation exposure and injuries. The attack remains the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, in his annual peace declaration, emphasized the need to abandon nuclear deterrence policies, stating that the threat of nuclear weapons continues to loom large. This year’s ceremony carried particular weight following the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers’ Organizations, recognizing their decades-long advocacy for nuclear abolition.
Among the attendees was 96-year-old Yoshie Yokoyama, a hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor), who shared the tragic loss of her parents and grandparents due to the bombing and its aftermath, including cancer-related deaths. She also recounted the fate of her in-laws, who her husband never saw again after returning from World War II battlefields. As of March 2024, the officially recognized number of hibakusha is 91,678, a number that continues to decline with age.
Notably, Russia did not dispatch an official delegation to the ceremony. However, Belarus, a key Russian ally, participated for the first time in four years. Representatives from Taiwan and Palestine also attended for the first time, marking a shift in the event’s international representation. The presence of these representatives underscores the broadening global concern over nuclear proliferation and conflict resolution.
Japan has consistently faced international pressure to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2021. Despite being the only nation to have experienced a nuclear attack, Japan has refrained from ratifying the treaty, citing its reliance on the US nuclear deterrent for security. The US maintains a significant military presence in Japan, including naval bases and airfields.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, after laying a wreath at the cenotaph containing the names of the bombing victims, reiterated Japan’s commitment to leading global disarmament efforts, emphasizing its unique position as a victim of nuclear warfare. the cenotaph, designed by Kenzo Tange, was unveiled in 1952.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a statement, warned that nuclear weapons are “once again being treated as tools of coercion,” highlighting the growing risks in the current geopolitical landscape. He also praised Nihon
