Historical Context
- Date of bombing: August 6, 1945
- Bomb nickname: “Little Boy”, dropped by the United States
- Immediate death toll: Approx. 78,000 people
- Estimated total by year-end (due to heat and radiation): Tens of thousands more
- Follow-up bombing: “Fat Man” (plutonium bomb) on Nagasaki on August 9
- Japan surrendered on: August 15, 1945
🔹 Commemoration Event (2025)
- Held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
- Marked with a moment of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time of the bombing
- Attended by representatives from a record 120 countries and territories
- Including the United States and Israel
- Including the United States and Israel
🔹 Mayor’s Message
- Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned of rising global military tensions and nuclear armament
- Criticized the belief among leaders that nuclear weapons are essential for national defense
- Highlighted that U.S. and Russia together possess 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads
- Called the trend a threat to peace and a betrayal of historical lessons
- Urged world leaders:
“Please visit Hiroshima and witness for yourselves the reality of the atomic bombing.”
🔹 Public Sentiment
- Yoshikazu Horie, a 71-year-old tourist, voiced concern:
“It feels more and more like history is repeating itself… It’s very scary.” - Emphasized desire for peace for future generations:
“I’ve got grandchildren and I want peace so they can live their lives happily.”
🔹 Legacy of Survivors (Hibakusha)
- Survivors often faced discrimination due to fears of disease and genetic impact
- Number of hibakusha alive today: Dropped below 100,000 for the first time
🔹 Japan’s Nuclear Disarmament Stance
- Japan promotes nuclear disarmament
However, it is not a signatory or observer of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons