Japan Remembers Hiroshima Bombing 80 Years Later

On August 6, 2025, people in Japan and around the world gathered to remember the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The main ceremony took place at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, world leaders, survivors, and citizens attended. At exactly 8:15 a.m.—the time the bomb fell in 1945—everyone stood in silence to honor the victims.

The bombing happened during the final days of World War II. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb used in war, called Little Boy, on Hiroshima. Three days later, another bomb, Fat Man, hit Nagasaki. These two attacks killed more than 200,000 people by the end of 1945, from the blast, fires, and radiation sickness. Soon after, Japan surrendered, ending the war.

This year’s memorial wasn’t only about remembering the past—it was also about warning the world. During the ceremony, doves were released as a sign of peace. Children rang bells to show hope for a better future. Prime Minister Ishiba and Hiroshima’s mayor, Kazumi Matsui, spoke about how dangerous nuclear weapons still are today. They said that countries need to work together to get rid of them, especially since conflicts around the world are creating more tension. The United Nations and peace groups are asking countries to follow agreements that limit nuclear weapons and to work on reducing them.

Survivors of the bombing, known as hibakusha, continue to share their stories. But every year, there are fewer of them still alive. That’s why schools in Japan teach students about what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so the memory can be passed on.

Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park was built near where the bomb exploded. One of its most famous landmarks is the Atomic Bomb Dome, which was left partly destroyed and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands as a reminder of the dangers of war and the importance of peace.

Eighty years later, Hiroshima’s story still matters. The people who remember it most clearly are growing older, but their message is simple: war has a terrible cost, and peace is worth protecting.

citations:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cwy5n13jqdlo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6vff82

https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/npt/

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/775

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/atomic-bomb-hiroshima