Tokyo, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Japan’s Hiroshima on Thursday observed the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city, with memorial events highlighting the devastating impact of nuclear weapons amid growing global tensions and concerns over nuclear risks.
At the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony held at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered the Peace Declaration, calling for stronger international efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Warning against the consequences of normalising nuclear weapons and the use of force, Matsui said, “Downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue one’s own prosperity risks cycles of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki.”
The Hiroshima mayor also urged younger generations to take the lead in building global support for the elimination of nuclear weapons as the number of atomic bomb survivors continues to decline.
A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m. local time, marking the exact time when a US bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The attack killed around 140,000 people by the end of that year.
Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki in southwestern Japan, becoming the second and last use of nuclear weapons in warfare.
As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, Japan has traditionally followed the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which prohibit possessing, producing or allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into its territory.
However, debate over revising the principles has intensified in recent years, particularly within the ruling bloc. Local media reports have suggested that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government was considering changes to the principle that bars the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan, triggering concern among sections of Japanese society.
According to The Tokyo Shimbun, at least 128 local assemblies across 36 prefectures have submitted written opinions to Japan’s parliament since Takaichi assumed office in October last year, urging the government to continue upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. The number is reportedly the highest recorded.
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