Hiroshima Marks 80 Years of Atomic Bombing Amid Rising Nuclear Threats

Japan solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, with ceremonies attended by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, survivors, and international representatives. The events underscored the devastating human toll of the bombings, which killed over 140,000 people in Hiroshima alone and left lasting suffering due to radiation. Despite Japan's commitment as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings to advocate for nuclear disarmament, global tensions including Russia's war on Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East are fueling military buildups and nuclear arsenals. Officials warned that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty faces dysfunctionality amid rising nuclear threats, as reflected by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock reaching its most dangerous reading ever. Survivors, known as hibakusha, are aging rapidly, which challenges the transfer of firsthand memories to younger generations. The ceremonies and speeches called for renewed international dialogue and efforts to prevent a future nuclear catastrophe.