Hiroshima holds memorial ceremony for 81st anniversary of atomic bombing

The ceremony saw the first attendance of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her official capacity, during which she advocated for a 'realistic approach' to nuclear abolition under the UN Non-Proliferation Treaty and suggested revising Japan's post-war non-nuclear principles. Additionally, reports indicate that the number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105, with their average age now exceeding 86 years. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also used the occasion to criticize major powers for justifying nuclear weapons as a method of deterrence.

The ceremony, which saw the participation of representatives from approximately 120 countries and regions, included the first attendance of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her capacity as Prime Minister. During the event, a minute of silence was observed at 8:15 AM, and the Prime Minister advocated for a 'realistic approach' toward nuclear disarmament within the framework of the NPT, while also discussing the potential revision of Japan's post-war non-nuclear principles.

The commemoration was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the first time in her current capacity, where she advocated for a 'realistic approach' to nuclear disarmament within the NPT framework. While confirming that Japan maintains its three non-nuclear principles, she did not express a clear commitment to adhering to them in the future and suggested the possibility of revising the third principle. Additionally, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned that legitimizing nuclear deterrence 'simply pushes a world without nuclear weapons further into the distance.'

The ceremony featured Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's first attendance in her current capacity, during which she advocated for a 'realistic approach' to nuclear disarmament within the NPT framework. While maintaining the country's postwar three non-nuclear principles, she did not express a clear commitment to adhering to these policies in the future and suggested the possibility of revising the third principle. Additionally, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized the legitimization of nuclear deterrence, warning that such views push the goal of a nuclear-free world further away.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the commemoration for the first time and stated she would take a 'realistic approach' toward a world without nuclear weapons within the UN framework, though she did not express a clear commitment to adhering to Japan's postwar three non-nuclear principles. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized the legitimization of nuclear deterrence, warning that such actions risk cycles of violence. Additionally, reports indicate the number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105, with their average age now exceeding 86 years.

The ceremony featured Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who attended in her capacity as Prime Minister for the first time and advocated for a 'realistic approach' to nuclear disarmament within the Non-Proliferation Treaty framework. While maintaining postwar non-nuclear principles, she did not express a clear commitment to future adherence and has suggested the possibility of revising the principle prohibiting nuclear weapons from entering the country. Additionally, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized the legitimization of nuclear deterrence, warning that it risks cycles of violent retaliation.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the ceremony for the first time as Prime Minister, noting that while Japan maintains its postwar three non-nuclear principles, she did not express a clear commitment to adhering to them in the future. During the event, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized the legitimization of nuclear deterrence, warning that such views risk cycles of violent retaliation. Additionally, the number of atomic bomb survivors is reported to have fallen to 91,105, with their average age now exceeding 86 years.

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105—down from approximately 364,420 originally—and their average age has now exceeded 86 years; Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui condemned nuclear deterrence as legitimizing violence and warned of cycles of retaliation, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first such ceremony, affirmed Japan’s reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, rejected signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and signaled openness to revising Japan’s non-nuclear principles—particularly the ban on bringing nuclear weapons into the country—without committing to their future preservation.

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105—down from roughly 364,420 originally—and their average age has surpassed 86, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial as PM, signaled no firm commitment to preserving Japan’s three non-nuclear principles, instead advocating a 'realistic approach' within the NPT framework and openly considering abolishing the ban on hosting U.S. nuclear weapons, even as the government continues to reject signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons despite calls from survivors and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged a world where nuclear threats become 'unthinkable.'

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 370,000 originally — and their average age has surpassed 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that the Nagasaki bombing killed an estimated 74,000, slightly revising the earlier figure of 70,000; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled a shift in policy by advocating for revising Japan’s non-nuclear principles and celebrating a Tomahawk missile test, sparking protests from survivors and citizens who denounced her presence and Japan’s plan to double its defense budget and export lethal weapons, despite the government’s continued rejection of簽

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 370,000 originally — and their average age has exceeded 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are growing again, military spending hit $2.9 trillion in 2025, and Japan’s new defense policies — including doubling its budget, authorizing lethal weapon exports, and considering revision of its non-nuclear principles — have drawn sharp criticism from survivors and protesters who say the government is betraying its pacifist legacy.

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 380,000 originally — and their average age has exceeded 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are growing again after decades of decline, military spending hit $2.9 trillion in 2025, and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first memorial, signaled intent to revise Japan’s three non-nuclear principles and double its defense budget — moves met with protests from survivors and citizens who condemned the government’s shift toward militarization as a betrayal of Hiroshima’s legacy.

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from roughly 364,000 originally — and their average age has exceeded 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are no longer declining, the norm against nuclear testing is eroding, and military spending reached $2.9 trillion in 2025; Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled intent to revise the nation’s three non-nuclear principles and expand military capabilities, including doubling its defense budget and testing Tomahawk missiles — actions met with protests from survivors and citizens who condemned the government’s shift away from pacifism

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 370,000 originally — and their average age has exceeded 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are no longer declining, nuclear testing norms are eroding, and military spending reached $2.9 trillion in 2025; Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled a shift toward revising Japan’s non-nuclear principles and expanding military capabilities — including celebrating a Tomahawk missile test and doubling defense spending — drawing protests from survivors and citizens who condemned the contradiction between commemoration and re

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 370,000 originally — and their average age has exceeded 86, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled a shift in policy by advocating for revising Japan’s three non-nuclear principles and rejecting calls to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, even as survivors and protesters condemned her government’s push to double the defense budget, authorize lethal weapons exports, and strengthen ties to the U.S. nuclear umbrella, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning that global nuclear arsenals are growing again and the norm against nuke

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 370,000 originally — and their average age has surpassed 86, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled a shift in policy by advocating for revising Japan’s non-nuclear principles and celebrating a Tomahawk missile test, sparking protests from survivors and citizens who condemned her government’s move toward militarization and rejection of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, even as UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are growing again and nuclear deterrence is undermining peace.

The number of atomic bomb survivors has fallen to 91,105 — down from approximately 380,000 originally — and their average age has now exceeded 86, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global nuclear arsenals are no longer declining and military spending reached $2.9 trillion in 2025; Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending her first Hiroshima memorial, signaled a shift toward revising Japan’s non-nuclear principles and strengthening military ties with the U.S., sparking protests from survivors and citizens who condemned her government’s push to double defense spending, authorize lethal weapon exports, and pursue nuclear deterrence despite Japan’s official stance反对