Japan marks 81st A-bomb anniversary amid debate over nuclear policies

Japan's Hiroshima on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city amid growing debate over nuclear policies.

A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m. local time, the exact moment when an atomic bomb dropped by a US bomber detonated over the city on August 6, 1945, killing around 140,000 people by the end of that year.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered the Peace Declaration during the annual memorial ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park in the city, warning, "Downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue one's own prosperity risk cycles of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki."

As the number of atomic bombing survivors continues to decline, Matsui also called on younger generations to make the "abolition of nuclear weapons common sense in the international community" and "help create an environment that does not allow policymakers to rely on nuclear deterrence."

In her speech at the event, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan upholds the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and, as the only country to have experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war, has the mission to continue persevering in its efforts to realize a world free of nuclear weapons.

Calls for historical reflection

While commemorating the victims of the atomic bombing, neither Takaichi nor Matsui referred in their speeches to the broader historical background of the attacks.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, to hasten Japan's surrender in World War II.

For years, debates have continued in Japan and abroad over how the country remembers its wartime history. Some scholars and observers have argued that public discussions of the atomic bombings have often focused on Japan's wartime suffering, while less attention has been paid to Japan's actions during the war and the impact of its military expansion on countries across Asia.

Professor Emeritus Atsushi Koketsu of Yamaguchi University pointed to the wording of the inscription at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, which states: "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the error." He noted that the inscription does not specify whose "error" led to the tragedy.

A public opinion poll conducted by Japan Broadcasting Corporation in March 2026 showed differing views among Japanese respondents regarding wartime history. When asked whether World War II was "a war of aggression launched by Japan against its Asian neighbors," 35% agreed and 16% disagreed, while 48% said they did not know.

Xu Weijun, an associate research professor at the Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology, said the results reflected the complexity of Japan's collective memory of the war.

"Japanese society remembers the war and even harbors a genuine fear of it, yet it has not recalled to the same extent how Japan launched the war and how it invaded Asian countries," Xu said.

Xu added the issue is closely linked to whether postwar Japan can continue to define itself as a peaceful nation through deeper historical reflection.

Debate grows over Japan's nuclear policy direction

Japan has long maintained the Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. However, discussions over whether the principles should be reviewed have increased in recent years, particularly among some members of the ruling coalition.

Local media previously reported that the government of Prime Minister Takaichi was considering revising the principle prohibiting the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan. In July, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi openly stated in an online program that Japan should discuss nuclear-related policies "without any taboo."

The remarks have triggered debate over the future direction of Japan's nuclear policy.

The Tokyo Shimbun reported on Wednesday that since Takaichi took office in October last year, 128 local assemblies from 36 prefectures have submitted written opinions to Japan's parliament urging the government to maintain the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

Meanwhile, a recent public opinion poll conducted by the Japan Association for Public Opinion Research showed that 76% of respondents supported maintaining the principles.

Cao Cong, an expert at the School of Global and Regional Studies at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Japan, given its experience as the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, should continue to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

He said any move away from the Three Non-Nuclear Principles could affect Japan's image as a peace-oriented nation and potentially pose challenges to the global nuclear non-proliferation system.