Hiroshima commemorated the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on August 6 with a strong appeal for global nuclear disarmament, urging young people to take the lead as survivor numbers decline and global tensions rise.

In his annual Peace Declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui emphasized the need for future generations to recognize the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons. “Our youth must understand the inhumanity of nuclear arms and lead efforts to build a peaceful world,” he said at the memorial ceremony in Peace Memorial Park.

A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m.—the exact time the uranium bomb was dropped by the U.S. bomber Enola Gay in 1945, killing approximately 140,000 people by the end of that year.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s role in promoting nuclear disarmament, stating it is the country’s duty as the only nation to experience atomic warfare.

This year’s ceremony saw participation from a record 120 countries and regions, including first-time attendees Palestine and Taiwan. Belarus joined for the first time in four years, while Russia remained absent amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The event follows the awarding of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, Japan’s leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, for its long-standing anti-nuclear campaign. However, the number of survivors continues to decline, now totaling under 100,000 with an average age over 86.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of growing nuclear risks and called for renewed global commitment to disarmament. “The very weapons that devastated Hiroshima are once again being seen as tools of coercion,” his message read.

Mayor Matsui also urged the Japanese government to join the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons—a stance Japan has resisted due to its reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence.

The memorial concluded with survivors and citizens offering prayers and flowers near the cenotaph, remembering those lost and calling for a peaceful future.