On Wednesday, Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with a solemn ceremony that served as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare. This observance comes at a time when escalating tensions between the United States and Russia have positioned the nuclear “Doomsday Clock” perilously close to midnight.
A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 AM (2315 GMT), marking the exact time when the US aircraft Enola Gay released “Little Boy” over the western Japanese city on August 6, 1945.
On a scorching morning, a large gathering of officials, students, and survivors dressed in black paid their respects by laying flowers at the memorial cenotaph. The backdrop of a ruined domed building served as a poignant reminder of the tragic events that transpired.
During a recent speech, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed concern over what he described as “an accelerating trend towards military buildup around the world.” His remarks come in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.
“These developments blatantly ignore the lessons that the international community ought to have absorbed from historical tragedies,” he stated.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised Japan’s commitment, stating it is the nation’s mission “to take the lead… towards a world without nuclear weapons”.
The Hiroshima attack ultimately resulted in a death toll estimated at approximately 140,000 individuals. This staggering figure encompasses not only those who perished in the immediate aftermath of the massive explosion and intense fireball but also those who succumbed later due to radiation exposure.
Just three days following the detonation of “Little Boy,” on August 9, a second atomic bomb claimed the lives of 74,000 individuals in Nagasaki. On August 15, Imperial Japan announced its surrender, marking the conclusion of World War II.
Hiroshima, now a bustling city with a population of 1.2 million, continues to bear the weight of its historical attacks, which remain etched in the memories of countless individuals.
As the ceremony approached, crowds gathered to honour the victims at the cenotaph, forming a queue to pay their respects.
In the early hours of Wednesday, families mourning the loss of loved ones in the attack gathered to pray.
Yoshie Yokoyama, 96, arrived in a wheelchair accompanied by her grandson and shared with reporters that her family members, including her parents and grandparents, were victims of the bombing.
“My grandfather passed away shortly after the bombing, and both my father and mother succumbed to cancer later on.” My husband’s parents passed away, meaning he was unable to see them again upon his return from the battlefields after the war.
“Individuals continue to endure hardships,” she stated.
Wednesday’s ceremony is poised to feature a historic gathering of approximately 120 countries and regions, marking the inaugural participation of representatives from Taiwan and Palestine.
The United States, which has yet to issue a formal apology for the bombings, was represented by its ambassador to Japan. Notably, Russia and China were not present.
Nihon Hidankyo, the grassroots organisation that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, is advocating for the diminishing population of survivors, referred to as hibakusha.
According to the Japanese health ministry, as of March, the number of hibakusha stands at 99,130, with an average age of 86 years.
“I urge foreign envoys to visit the peace memorial museum to gain insight into the events that transpired,” stated Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of the group, in an interview with local media before the commemorative events.
Pope Leo XIV issued a statement highlighting that “in our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts,” Hiroshima and Nagasaki serve as “living reminders of the profound horrors wrought by nuclear weapons.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, stating that “the very weapons that brought such devastation to Hiroshima and Nagasaki are once again being treated as tools of coercion”.
The younger generation
The use of atomic bombs in wartime has occurred only during these attacks.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 80, a survivor of the atomic blasts from his infancy, expressed to AFP his optimism for the possibility of a world free from nuclear weapons.
“The younger generation is putting in significant effort towards that goal,” he remarked before the ceremony.
In January, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced a significant adjustment to its “Doomsday Clock,” moving it to 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest point in its 78-year history.
The clock, representing humanity’s proximity to catastrophe, was last adjusted to 90 seconds to midnight in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia and the United States together hold approximately 90 per cent of the world’s more than 12,000 nuclear warheads.
SIPRI issued a warning in June regarding the emergence of a perilous new nuclear arms race, highlighting that this development coincides with the significant weakening of arms control regimes. The report noted that nearly all nine nuclear-armed states are in the process of modernising their arsenals.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to an online exchange with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
