Hiroshima: The 80 Years Mark
On August 6th, 2025, at 8:15 AM, thousands gathered at the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park for a minute of silence. That was the time the bomb was dropped. Then, it ended with the ringing of a peace bell, and many protesters gathered near the Atomic Bomb Dome. They were speaking out for nuclear disarmament.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, and other officials were seen laying flowers. Speeches and tributes were then delivered. Survivors of the bombing shared their experiences and expressed concern for nuclear weapon endangerment because of what they have seen in the past. They don’t want anyone else to feel the same way they have felt.
Globally, events all around the world were dedicated to Hiroshima. It included a Lights for Peace event in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and a non-violent protest in Livermore, California. This was a time when many were advocating for peace.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Hiroshima was the first city to ever experience the use of a nuclear weapon during war. “Enola Gay”, which is the name of the B-29 bomber that flew over the city and dropped the atomic bomb named “Little Boy.” The pilot of “Enola Gay” was Colonel Paul Tibbets, and the one who released the bomb was Thomas Ferebee.
The impact on the landscape was drastic. The highest populations immediately shifted to the outskirts of the city. Rivers were filled with casualties, and later, there was “Black Rain”. “Black Rain” was rain containing radioactive fallout, which in turn caused widespread contamination across the city.
The explosion “killed an estimated 140,000 people and thousands were affected with injuries or radiation sickness in the following weeks,” according to ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons). Now, Hiroshima has become a symbol of peace. It emphasizes the need to abolish nuclear weapon use.
The Message of the Hiroshima Bombing Remembrance
In this devastating time, we should take a moment to reflect and honor the past. Survivors shared the message of peace they intended to bring. Leaders drawing attention to the Ukraine and Russia war, as there is a risk of nuclear weapons being used.
There was a strong sense of duty to protect the future from nuclear artillery being used. This day is a remembrance of what happened on August 6, 1945. Hiroshima would never be the same, but it is important to remember the past of what has been done to ensure we learn from our mistakes.
Works Cited
American History Federation. “General Paul Tibbets’ Reflections on Hiroshima.” Atomic Heritage Foundation, https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/voices/oral-histories/general-paul-tibbets-reflections-hiroshima/.
NPR. “Hiroshima Survivors Fear Rising Nuclear Threat on the 80th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing.” NPR, 6 Aug. 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/g-s1-81228/hiroshima-survivors-fear-rising-nuclear-threat-on-the-80th-anniversary-of-atomic-bombing.
“Q&A: Reflecting on the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing’s Lasting Impact.” Syracuse University News, 4 Aug. 2025, https://news.syr.edu/blog/2025/08/04/qa-reflecting-on-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-atomic-bombings-lasting-impact/.
Yuzaki, Hidehiko. “Yuzaki Hidehiko, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture.” Pref.Hiroshima.lg.jp, https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/peace80-en/.