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Brussels – Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Wednesday, with survivors’ voices growing concern over the global shift toward nuclear rearmament and the push for disarmament.
The solemn ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park gathered local officials, international dignitaries, and atomic bomb survivors, many of whom fear their testimonies could soon be lost to time.
“There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 or 20 years,” said 94-year-old Minoru Suzuto. “That’s why I want to share my story as much as I can.”
The US bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, instantly killed tens of thousands and ultimately left 140,000 dead. A second bomb struck Nagasaki three days later, killing 70,000 more. The attacks remain the only instances of nuclear weapons being used in war.
Eighty years on, survivors say the threat has not diminished. On the contrary, they point to alarming trends: rising tensions between nuclear powers, the expansion of arsenals, and a growing number of countries modernizing their weapons.
“The divisions within the international community over nuclear disarmament are deepening,” Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned during the ceremony. He described the current security environment as “increasingly severe.”
Global concerns have escalated in recent months. The war in Ukraine has brought nuclear talks back into headlines, while US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and renewed friction between India and Pakistan over Kashmir underscore the fragility of the nuclear order.
Despite the passage of time, many in Hiroshima say the lessons of 1945 are more relevant than ever, and fear the world is forgetting.
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