Today, August 6th, Hiroshima observed the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. During the Peace Memorial Ceremony, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a speech, which can be summarized as follows:

Remembering the Past

• The Toll of the Bomb: He began by acknowledging the 80th anniversary of the atomic bomb blast, which claimed the lives of over 100,000 people and left survivors with immeasurable suffering. He offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
• A Visit to the Museum: Ishiba recounted a visit two years prior to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. He described the devastating images of the city and its people, noting that the victims were mostly civilians and their lives were taken "without mercy." He stressed that the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated.

A Call for a Nuclear-Free World

• Japan's Mission: The Prime Minister emphasized that as the only country to have experienced a nuclear attack, it is Japan's mission to lead the international community toward a world without nuclear weapons while upholding its non-nuclear principles.
• Renewed Efforts: He acknowledged the deep divisions in the international community regarding nuclear disarmament but stated that Japan would "do its utmost" to achieve a nuclear-free world by working within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also committed to continuing efforts based on the "Hiroshima Action Plan" to find common ground between nuclear and non-nuclear states.

Passing on the Legacy

• Preserving the Memories: Ishiba highlighted the importance of accurately understanding the reality of the bombing. With the average age of survivors now over 86, and many Japanese people having no personal memory of the war, he stressed the need to pass these memories on to the next generation.
• Supporting Survivors: The Prime Minister also mentioned that the law providing support for atomic bomb survivors has been in effect for 30 years. He promised that the government would continue to provide comprehensive support for the aging survivors, including swift processing for health care and welfare benefits.

He concluded his speech by promising to work for a nuclear-free world and permanent peace, and ended with a poem inscribed on a monument in the park dedicated to teachers and children who died in the bombing.