NHK NEWSLINE special Hiroshima Peace Memorial CeremonyーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
It’s 8 a.m. on August 6th. Nearly 80 years since the moment that changed history. You’re looking at a live shot of the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, a silent witness to the catastrophic power of nuclear weapons. With conflicts and the threat of such war ever looming, today we remember the unimaginable and lasting damage of the atomic bomb. Welcome to this special edition of NHK Newsline. I’m Tako Minori in Tokyo. This hour, we are extending our regular programming to bring you live coverage of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. On that sunny August day in 1945 at 8:15 in the morning, a single atomic bomb destroyed the city. The blast incinerated nearly everything, leaving deadly radiation in its wake. By the end of that year alone, an estimated 140,000 people had died. The survivors still suffer from the effects. Today, people across Japan and around the world will remember them and call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The ceremony in Hiroshima is already underway. As is the case every year, a new list of victims will be enshrined in the Senate today. It’s updated every year to include those who survived the bombing but have recently died. Since last year’s ceremony, 4,940 deaths have been added. That brings the total to 349,246 names. Today, the average age of living hibaka or atomic bomb victims is over 86 years old. Hiroshima City Mayor Matsui Kazumi and representatives from the victim’s families are now placing the new list of atomic bomb victims in the Senate since last year’s ceremony. 4,940 names have been added, bringing the total to 349, and 246 deaths. In a few minutes, at 8:15 a.m., the same time the bomb was dropped, Hiroshima will hold a moment of silence. And after all these years, many still fear history could repeat itself someday. Those calling for an end to nuclear weapons have faced many hurdles. Let’s take a look back on their fight and how it continues today. In a flash, the world changed. Humanity learned it could unleash untold devastation and kill hundreds of thousands of people with a single bomb. Days later, a second flash cemented that reality. To date, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only cities to suffer this horror. But the threat remains 1. During the Cold War, the US and former Soviet Union began to stockpile the weapons. In 1962, they even came close to an all-out nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. In 1968, a global non-prololiferation treaty or NPT barred any country without an existing nuclear arsenal from possessing the weapons. Atomic bomb survivors known as Hibbakia have campaigned for a complete ban. In 2017 came the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty. But none of the five major nuclear powers have joined, nor countries that rely on the US nuclear umbrella, including Japan. Recent conflicts have again raised the spectre of nuclear weapons. Russia invaded Ukraine and threatened to use its arsenal. And in the Middle East, many feared Iran was working on a nuclear development program that prompted Israel and the United States to strike Iranian facilities. Some feared humanity would once again cross that unforgivable line. But there has also been hope for change. Nihon Hidanku, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024. The award recognized their efforts upholding what’s known as the nuclear taboo. There are few Hebacha left to tell their stories. But those still here today are determined to keep raising their voices for peace. They’re now passing that torch to the next generation. So their painful legacy will remain a part of history to be remembered but never repeated. And that hope is what brings the world together in Hiroshima today. This year, instead of invitations, the city sent information on the ceremony to every country and region with diplomatic ties to Japan. As a result, representatives from a record 120 places are attending. For the last three years, Hiroshima did not invite Russia, citing its invasion of Ukraine. This year, they sent the information, but did not receive a response. Officials from Israel and Palestine are likely in the same venue. NHK World’s Yoshka Duichi has spent the morning at the peace memorial park. Duichi, you worked in Hiroshima for several years. What are you hearing from people there today? Despite the scorching heat, thousands of people from across Japan and around the world traveled to Hiroshima for today. They’re joining residents of the city in remembrance. We spoke to some of them. Here’s what they told us. That was an unspeakable scene. I will never forget what I saw. No matter how much time passes, wars still happen today. Not just one. There are wars everywhere. I just wonder if anything can be done. I have never skipped the August 6th memorial. I always come every year. There’s been suffering these past 80 years. I don’t know how much longer we can come together. It’s harder for her to talk. So, I need to listen more to keep her memory alive. And now, let’s go to Duichi. Oh, in the park there is a statue commemorating one of Hiroshima’s most symbolic figures. Sasaki Sadako survived the initial bombing but died years later from leukemia. She was just 12 years old. Her story of folding a thousand paper cranes has been shared around the globe. Saddako’s classmates still hold her in their memory. One of them who helped build the statue in the park is reflecting on the girl he knew all those years ago. And HK World’s Yum Jun has this report. Mito Hideo knew Sadako from elementary school. He was also among those raising money to build the statue. It is just like her as she really existed. Saddako, the fast runner. Saddako earned a reputation for speed. In 1954, she and Mito were chosen for a sixth grade relay race team. I was so amazed how fast Sasaki Sadako could run. She sprinted with an impressive forwardleaning posture. It was beautiful. Mito and relay member Kawanoto recently visited the school and recalled the race. Sadako pulled away right after receiving the baton. overwhelmingly widening the gap. We won first place by half a lap. We were so overjoyed like a sense of superiority. All 60 students in our class erupted with huge cheers. But soon after that, Sadako developed leukemia. She passed away the next year. After raising money for the statue, Mito didn’t speak about her for decades. Then he took a job at a gallery named after American peace activist Floyd Schmo. While working there, he learned that Schmo had erected the statue of Sadako in the US. The moment I saw this, I felt there must have been some sort of bond. I was moved rather than surprised. Driven by the coincidence, Mito started sharing his memories of Sadako with visitors like these high school students. When we were practicing folk dance, Saddako happened to be next to me. I was shy, so I was reluctant to hold hands with girls. As I was dillydallying, Sarako swiftly and firmly took my hand. I remember it fondly. He also shared memories of visiting Sado at the hospital. He said her legs once like a gazels had lost their shape. We brought paper cranes for her. When she stood up on the bed to hang them from the ceiling, I saw her legs had swollen to the size of her thighs. M’s story had a real impact on how the young visitors see a daco. I learned that she was just an ordinary girl and that if the atomic bomb hadn’t been dropped, she could have lived longer and led the life she deserved. It is really painful to think about it. Sarako said that by folding one paper crane, she can live one day longer. The words are still lingering powerfully inside of me. I want to raise my voice to say that leaders should stop even thinking about making nuclear weapons. Mito and classmates plan to share gratitude for their life and wishes for a more peaceful world at the 70th anniversary of Saddako’s death in October. We apologize for the technical difficulties we we had uh earlier trying to connect to Duichi at the uh peace memorial park. We are now approaching the exact time the bomb was dropped. will be going live to the peace memorial ceremony in Hiroshima. People in the city and across Japan will soon hold a moment of silence for the victims. Two representatives from the victim’s families and the children of Hiroshima will also ring what’s known as the peace bell. After that, Hiroshima Mayor Matsi Kazmi will deliver the city’s peace declaration. It’s a call for a world without nuclear weapons. And then two local students will recite a commitment to peace followed by an address by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. So now let’s go to NHK World’s imamiki to guide us through. In a few moments, people will observe a minute of silence, praying for the victims and for peace. October. has just observed a minute of silence remembering what happened 80 years ago. Hiroshima. Now, Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi will give this year’s peace declaration. peace declaration. 80 years ago, Hiroshima was strung with bodies too damaged to distinguish man from woman. When Hibaka ignored the many glass shards piercing her body to cremate her father with her own hands. I don’t care if I die. Please give me water, cried another. A woman ignored those pleas and survived. says she made up for her regrets by fighting to eliminate nuclear weapons. Another hibaka spent his life alone because the parents of the woman he loved refused to let her marry anyone exposed to the bomb. One Hakshia leader frequently reminded younger audiences, “Building a peaceful world without nuclear weapons will demand our never give up spirit. We have to talk and keep talking to people who hold opposing views. Today, conveying the ardent feast for peace derived from hibakshia experiences is more crucial than ever. The United States and Russia still possess about 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the chaos in the Middle East are accelerating military buildups around the world. Feeling the pressure of the situation, policy makers in some countries even accept the idea that nuclear weapons are essential for national defense. This disregards the lessons the world should have learned from past tragedies. They threaten to topple the peaceuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to build. Despite the current turmoil at the nation state level, we the people must never give up. Instead, we must work even harder to build civil society consensus that nuclear weapons must be abolished for a genuinely peaceful world. Our youth, the leaders of future generations must recognize that misguided policies regarding military spending, national security, and nuclear weapons could bring utterly inhumane consequences. We urge them to step forward with this understanding and lead civil society toward consensus through expanded participation at the grassroots level. In this process, we must all remember to think less about ourselves and more about each other. Thinking of others is how humanity has resolved much conflict and turmoil on our path to the present day. Clearly, nations too must look beyond narrow self-interest to consider the circumstances of other nations. In expanding grassroots initiatives, solidarity will be indispensable. Exchanges of arts and sports contribute enormously to the culture of peace we seek. Young people can easily take the lead in fostering that culture of peace. For example, through peace centered art and music projects or planting seeds and saplings from atomic bombed trees. These are some of the things they can do in their daily lives. The city of Hiroshima continuously offers opportunities to experience the culture of peace built by Hiroshima’s Hibaka and other predecessors in their spirit of mutual support. The more our peace culture transcends national borders, the more it will pressure policy makers now relying on nuclear deterrence to revise their policies. Policy makers around the world. Can you not see that security policies derived from narrow self-interest are fermenting international conflict? Nations now strengthening their nuclear arsenals and other military forces must engage constructively in talks aimed at abandoning reliance on nuclear weapons. Please visit Hiroshima. Witness with your own eyes what an atomic bombing does. Take to heart the peaceloving spirit of Hiroshima. then begin immediately discussing a security framework based on trust through dialogue. Japan is the only nation to suffer a wartime atomic bombing. Japan’s government represents a people aspiring to genuine lasting peace. Hiroshima demands it lead the way in unifying our divided world. As president of Mayers for Peace, the world’s largest network of peace cities, Hiroshima will collaborate with our more than 8,500 members worldwide to instill the culture of peace in opposition to military force, urging leaders to revise their policies. We call on Japan to sign and ratify the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, TPNW, and begin to address the hopes of our hibakia represented by Nihong Hidanko, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and manifest the spirit of Hiroshima. The nuclear non-prololiferation treaty is on the brink of dysfunction. The TPNW should serve as its strong support, keeping it the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and non-prololiferation regime. We demand that next year during the first TPNW review conference that Japan participate as an observer. Furthermore, in light of the intensified global challenges of coping with radiation damage due to nuclear testing, for all Hibbaka whose average age now exceeds 86, facing myriad hardships caused by the harm to their minds and bodies, we demand that our government strengthen measures of support, including for those living abroad. At this peace memorial ceremony marking 80 years since the atomic bombing, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the souls of the victims of the atomic bombings. We renew our determination to work together with Nagasaki and with like-minded people around the world to reach humanity’s long sought goal. The abolition of nuclear weapons leading to lasting world peace. Mati Kazumi, mayor of the city of Hiroshima. The doves represent peace. As we’ve just heard, Hiroshima’s mayor called on countries strengthening their militaries, including through nuclear deterrence, to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at abandoning reliance on nuclear weapons. He also demanded Japan participate in the first TPMW review conference next year as an observer. Next, we’ll hear the children’s commitment to peace. It will be presented by two sixth graders, Sikiuchi and Sasaki. Seekuchi says she hopes her speech reaches world leaders. Sasaki, an English guide since the second grade, wants to pass on the story of what happened that day. Commitment to peace. The day will come when there are no more hibaka left in the world. In order to avoid repeating the same mistakes, as many people as possible must know the truth of what happened. Have you ever imagined what it was like on the day the atomic bomb was dropped? At 8:15 a.m. on August 6th, 1945, the very first atomic bomb in the history of warfare was dropped on Hiroshima. annihilating in an instant the lives we take for granted. Imagine people burned beyond recognition. Unending tears pouring with veils of despair. A single atomic bomb robbed countless people of their lives and changed the lives of survivors forever. It has been 80 years since the atomic bombing. We now have less chances than ever to hear directly from the Hibbakia as they speak of memories that are extremely painful. memories they would rather forget. No matter how much time passes, we cannot allow this tragedy to fade from memory. The responsibility to record and convey the voices of the hibbakia to the next generation falls to us. Wars are happening right now in places around the world. There are so many people who have lost loved ones and the will to live. We should take these facts to heart and concern ourselves with peace. We should be accepting of diversity and work to understand others. If each of us is considerate of each other’s feelings and speaks to one another with compassion, then there would be no more pain or sadness. We believe that the smallest of gestures to those around you might one day lead to world peace. One voice, even just one voice when spoken with conviction about the facts learned can make a difference. That doesn’t just apply for adults. Us kids can also take action for peace in order to avoid repeating what happened that day to avoid repeating the history of Hiroshima. We will build peace by continuing to convey the will of the hibaka and weaving our voices together as one August 6, 2025. Children’s representatives Sixth year, Hiroshima City Minami Elementary School. Sixth year, Hiroshima City Elementary School. Sasaki. That was this year’s commitment to peace presented by two local students. Next, Prime Minister Ishibasheru will address the ceremony. 80 years ago today, an atomic bomb exploded and claimed what is said to be more than 100,000 precious lives. For those who narrowly escaped death began days of suffering that defied description. As prime minister, I respectfully offer my heartfelt condolences to the souls of the atomic bomb victims and I extend my sincere sympathy to those who still suffer from the after effects. Two years ago in September, I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum for the first time since its renovation. On that day 80 years ago, what happened under the rising mushroom cloud? Scorched streets reduced to ashes. Charred remains of innocent people. A person living an ordinary life. Then 4,000 degree heat rays instantly turned them into a shadow on a stone. Many of the victims were civilians. People’s dreams and bright futures were robbed mercilessly in an instant, and that left me speechless. The calamities that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. while firmly maintaining the three non-uclear principles in pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons to lead the global community’s initiatives is Japan’s mission as the only nation to suffer atomic bombings during war. Regarding nuclear arms reduction, the divide in the world is deepening and the current security environment is becoming increasingly severe. Yet these are why we under the cornerstone for the international nuclear disarmament and non-prololiferation framework or nuclear non-prololiferation treaty NPT with the goal of a world without nuclear war and a world free of nuclear weapons. We will do our utmost looking toward next year’s NPT review conference to exert the spirit of dialogue and cooperation to its fullest. We will continue to strongly call on other nations under the Hiroshima action plan for nuclear nations and nuclear-free countries to work together. We will also strive to find concrete measures to realize a world without nuclear weapons. Our efforts must be based on the correct understanding of the reality of falling victim to the atomic bombs. Having for years worked to foster that understanding and to abolish nuclear weapons, the Japan Confederation of A and Hform sufferers organizations was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. This is very significant and I again express my respect. Now the average age of the atomic bomb survivors is above 86 and most Japanese belong to generations who do not have firstirhand knowledge of war. When I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, I renewed my resolve that these unbearable orals and memories should never be allowed to fade away and must be handed down through future generations. The government has been calling on leaders and young people around the world to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and this is actually happening. The annual number of visitors to the memorial museum passed 2 million for the first time last fiscal year and more than 30% of them were foreign visitors. Communicating the reality of falling victim to the atomic bombs not only to the people in Japan but also to those around the world is our obligation. The atomic bomb survivors assistance act was implemented 30 years ago. The screenings to recognize atomic bomb sicknesses will be conducted as swiftly as possible and we will continue to stand by those who are advancing in age and promote health, medicine, welfare and other comprehensive relief measures. In closing, here in Hiroshima, to realize a world without nuclear war and a world free of nuclear weapons, to bring about everlasting peace, I pledge once again that Japan will do its utmost. I pray for the repose of the souls of all victims of the atomic bombs and for the inner peace of the bereaveved families, the survivors, as well as today’s attendees and the people of Hiroshima. Big bones must be the teachers. Near them little skulls gather that is carved. Big bones must be the teachers. Near them little skulls gather that is carved on a monument standing amid greenery near the park dedicated to the elementary school teachers and children killed by the atomic bomb. Reflecting on the countless emotions evoked by this poem by Tanka poet Sha Shino, I wish to conclude my condolences. Ishiba, Prime Minister. And that was the address by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Let’s go to NHK World’s Yuska Aduichi who’s standing by near the ceremony site. Yuichi. Yeah, Minori, I have been here in this park since early this morning. And something I find interesting about this view is the contrast that it offers. Many people are well aware of this structure right behind me, the atomic bomb dome. It still remains even after eight decades. an old structure, but walk around and you’ll find a lot of new, like young people asking visitors to sign their petitions calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. It allows people to see a key symbol of devastation in a new light and filled with hope. There are also new faces. I met many foreign tourists. I want to know some things about this and what happened in the past to remind to our generation or us to not do it again because it’s not good. This is a symbol of why peace is necessary and we unfortunately live wars as we speak today. Some people, innocent people are suffering wars led by men who have objectives that have nothing to do with our humanity. We cannot come back to France without seeing Hiroshima Museum, especially because it was the 18th anniversary of the bombing attack. Hey, it’s worth mentioning that even after this event, this memorial ceremony ends, the conversations will likely continue. This park remains a major gathering spot. It brings everyone together, young and adult, young and old, and the locals and of visitors as well. and remembering and responding to what happened in Hiroshima is not limited to just a ceremony. And one atomic bomb survivor once told me that for him it’s not just about the day of the bombing, but also every day since. It’s back to you, Minari. Thank you, Duichi. And this concludes our special coverage of the peace memorial ceremony. Hiroshima and all of Japan are once again calling for a world free of nuclear weapons, a call that’s more urgent every year. We continue to lose survivors to the passage of time. It is becoming harder to hear their stories directly and to pass them on to the next generation. The world cannot afford to wait for change. NHK Newsine will keep bringing you their voices and messages of peace. Now, Saturday, August 9th, will also mark the 80 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. We’ll be covering that city’s annual peace ceremony live starting from 10:45 a.m. Japan time. I’m Tako Minori in Tokyo. Thank you very much for joining us on this special day.
This annual ceremony for world peace commemorates the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. At 8:15, the moment the bomb was dropped 80 years ago, people offer a silent prayer. #japan #hiroshima #ww2 #peace #nuclear
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