Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui addressed Russia's nuclear stance during the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing, while omitting mention of the United States' role in the 1945 attack.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized Russia for its actions in Ukraine and its use of nuclear weapons during a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing. While he directly named Russia during his speech, he did not mention the United States as the country responsible for the 1945 attack on the city. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also omitted any reference to the United States in her address at the ceremony.

Ceremony Remarks and Disarmament

During the memorial, Mayor Matsui called for global nuclear disarmament and expressed hope that no third city would ever suffer an atomic bombing. Prime Minister Takaichi pledged that Japan would continue working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Japanese officials frequently omit naming the United States in public speeches regarding the bombings, though the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and national textbooks provide detailed historical information about the events.

Historical Context and Casualties

The United States conducted the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, citing military necessity. Estimates indicate that the Hiroshima explosion killed between 70,000 and 100,000 people on the day of the attack, with the death toll reaching 140,000 by the end of 1945. The total number of victims associated with the Hiroshima bombing currently exceeds 350,000.