Hiroshima marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor deplores the pursuit of nuclear weapons

Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city on Aug. 6, 1945, at ceremonies held Thursday at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Mayor Kazumi Matsui used his peace declaration to criticize major powers for treating nuclear weapons as deterrence, warning that normalizing their use invites cycles of violent retaliation that could lead to another Hiroshima or Nagasaki. About 50,000 people, including representatives from roughly 120 countries and regions such as the United States and Iran, attended. A minute of silence was held at 8:15 a.m. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan aims for nuclear weapons never to be used under UN treaty frameworks.