Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Hiroshima Marks 81st Anniversary of Atomic Bombing; India Pays Tribute
A very long time ago, during a big war, a powerful country dropped a huge and dangerous bomb on a city in Japan called Hiroshima.
The bomb hurt and even ended the lives of many people in the city.
Every year, the people of Hiroshima hold a special ceremony to remember what happened and to ask world leaders to never use such bombs again.
This year was the 81st time they held this ceremony.
Thousands of people came, including visitors from 120 countries.
Everyone stayed quiet for a moment at 8:15 in the morning, because that is when the bomb fell long ago.
The mayor of Hiroshima told the world's biggest countries to stop thinking that nuclear bombs keep them safe.
The Prime Minister of Japan came to the ceremony for the first time.
People who survived the bombing, called hibakusha, shared their stories so that no one forgets.
Visitors from India also came and put flowers at the memorial to show that they care too.
Hiroshima held a memorial ceremony on Aug. 6 marking 81 years since the US atomic bombing of the city in 1945.
About 50,000 people, including delegates from 120 countries, took part at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Mayor Kazumi Matsui condemned big powers for justifying nuclear weapons as deterrence and urged nuclear disarmament.
India's Ambassador to Japan Nagma Mallick laid flowers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in tribute to the victims.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi joined the ceremony for the first time as prime minister, endorsing the United Nations agenda on nuclear disarmament.
- Who
- Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, India's Ambassador to Japan Nagma Mallick, and about 50,000 participants including delegates from 120 countries.
- What
- The 81st anniversary memorial ceremony of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima, calling for peace and nuclear disarmament.
- When
- Thursday, Aug. 6, marking 81 years since the bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.
- Where
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan.
- Why
- To remember the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing and renew global calls for peace, nuclear disarmament, and preservation of hibakusha memory.
Nuclear Disarmament Advocates
Nuclear Deterrence Advocates
Nuclear weapons as deterrence
Nuclear Disarmament Advocates
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui condemned big powers for justifying nuclear weapons as deterrence and urged them to break out of that mentality to prevent repeated devastating nuclear attacks like those at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Nuclear Deterrence Advocates
Some big powers continue to justify the use of nuclear weapons as a way of deterrence, a stance the mayor directly criticized during the ceremony.
- Event
- 81st anniversary memorial ceremony of the Hiroshima atomic bombing
- Location
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan
- Date
- Thursday, Aug. 6
- Attendance
- About 50,000 people, including delegates from 120 countries
- Moment of silence
- 8:15 a.m., the time of the 1945 atomic bombing
- Original bombing
- Aug. 6, 1945, by the United States during World War II
- Second bombing
- Nagasaki, three days after Hiroshima