Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to its non-nuclear principles on Thursday (August 6) in Hiroshima as the city marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing.
About 50,000 participants from 123 countries and regions including a-bomb survivors, observed a moment of silence in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, after a peace bell was rung at 8:15 a.m. local time (2315GMT on Wednesday), the time when the bomb was dropped 81 years ago.
“I also pledge to do everything in my power to realise a world without nuclear weapons and lasting peace,” said Takaichi during a speech at the ceremony, reiterating Japan’s stance of upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
The mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, also urged world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons, warning that violent retaliation may lead the world back to the World War II mentality.
