Hiroshima marked 80 years since the atomic bombing on Wednesday, with aging survivors expressing frustration over growing support for nuclear weapons as a deterrent. The event comes at a time when global leaders are increasingly backing military buildups and nuclear deterrence.
Many survivors fear that as their number dwindles, there will be no one left to pass on their stories and experiences. Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, urged the world to learn from history’s tragedies and warned of the “utterly inhumane” consequences of such policies.
Mayor Kazumi Matsui called for a world without nuclear weapons, but Japan’s government has rejected signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Instead, they rely on US nuclear deterrence due to their geographical location surrounded by neighbors with nuclear capabilities.
The Japanese government claims to be pursuing peace, but survivors say this is just a hollow promise. The US government has also faced criticism for its response to civilian victims and refusal to acknowledge its responsibility.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of remembering past lessons to protect and build peace today and in the future. The gathering comes at a time when nuclear deterrence is gaining traction, with many countries recommitting to a nuclear-free world.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/g-s1-81228/hiroshima-survivors-fear-rising-nuclear-threat-on-the-80th-anniversary-of-atomic-bombing