Japan marks 71 {+s} {+t} anniversary of Hiroshima bombing

Japan on Saturday marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a USA atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. About 50,000 participants, including aging survivors and dignitaries, held a moment of silence at a memorial ceremony in the western Japanese city.

Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui urged all countries with nuclear weapons to “have the courage to escape the logic of fear, and pursue a world without them”.

Thousands of people commemorated the 71th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing by the USA with a peace ceremony, Saturday, sending floating lanterns out from the banks of the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima Peace Park.

“In May, for the first time, as US President, Barack Obama visited Hiroshima”.

Obama in May embraced survivors as he made his visit to the city and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Abe, after lying a wreath of flowers, reiterated Saturday that Tokyo will continue working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Another atomic bombing three days later in Nagasaki killed more than 70,000 people. Many died immediately and others perished later from burns, radiation, and other injuries.

“It’s a time to remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 in which many innocent lives were lost in this horrific act of war”, said Terumi Kuwada, a former president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians.

“I expect him to join with President Obama and display leadership in this endeavor”, he said of Abe. At the time, Japan was at war with the U.S. and surrendered six days after the Nagasaki bombing.

Abe previous year faced harsh criticism, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan’s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. Many were members of the organization United for Justice with Peace and have held regular protests against nuclear weapons and violence since 2002, in response to the military escalation post-9/11 and the lead-up to the war in Iraq.

Those atomic bombings changed the world forever and ushered in the nuclear age.