Japan Marks 80 Years Since Hiroshima Bombing Amid Nuclear Tensions

Hiroshima marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing with solemn ceremonies, including a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped the bomb in 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people by the year's end. Survivors, whose average age now exceeds 86, expressed urgency in sharing their experiences before they are gone, warning against the growing global acceptance of nuclear weapons as deterrents amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for nuclear disarmament, urging the world to reject military buildup and nuclear reliance, and highlighted Japan's unique role in leading efforts toward a nuclear-free world. The ceremonies saw participation from a record 120 countries, including Russia and Belarus, though some major powers like China were absent. Survivors voiced disappointment over global leaders' support for nuclear deterrence and criticized remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that seemed to justify military attacks by comparing them to the atomic bombings. The event underscored the ongoing challenges of nuclear threats in modern geopolitics and emphasized the importance of remembering the horrors of Hiroshima to prevent future nuclear warfare.