- Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for global nuclear disarmament at Hiroshima’s memorial ceremony.
- Roughly 55,000 attendees, including survivors, foreign dignitaries, and the UN, gathered at Peace Memorial Park.
- A minute of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the bomb fell 80 years ago.
What We Know
On August 6, 2025, Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with a solemn ceremony at the city’s Peace Memorial Park. The event, organized by the Japanese government and attended by dignitaries from around the world, paid tribute to the victims and renewed calls for a world free of nuclear weapons.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba participated in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony and laid a wreath in honor of the victims. Approximately 55,000 people, including survivors, bereaved families, representatives from 120 nations, the European Union, and international organizations such as the United Nations, were present.
The ceremony began with the addition of names of atomic bomb victims who passed away in the past year to the cenotaph, led by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and representatives of the victims’ families. At 8:15 a.m.—the exact time the bomb was dropped in 1945—the Peace Bell rang and attendees observed a moment of silence.
Following this, Mayor Matsui read the annual Peace Declaration, and two children recited a “Promise for Peace.” Prime Minister Ishiba then delivered a speech, expressing his sorrow and reaffirming Japan’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and peace.
What They’re Saying
After the ceremony, the Prime Minister visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to observe exhibits detailing the impact of the bombing. He later held a private meeting with representatives from seven survivors’ groups at a local hotel, where he listened to their concerns and commitments for support.
He concluded his visit by traveling to a nursing home for atomic bomb survivors within the city, meeting residents and reaffirming the government’s pledge to care for those affected by the nuclear devastation.
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