TOKYO • Japan yesterday marked 72 years since the world’s first nuclear attack on Hiroshima, with the nation’s traditional contradictions over atomic weapons again coming into focus.
The anniversary came after Japan sided last month with nuclear powers Britain, France and the United States to dismiss a United Nations treaty banning atomic weapons, which was rejected by critics for ignoring the reality of security threats such as North Korea.
Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking at the annual ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park near ground zero, said Japan hoped to push for a world without nuclear weapons in a way that all countries could agree on.
“For us to truly pursue a world without nuclear weapons, we need participation from both nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear weapon states,” said Mr Abe.
“Our country is committed to leading the international community by encouraging both sides” to make progress towards abolishing nuclear arms, Mr Abe added, without referring directly to the UN treaty.
Over 50,000 people attended the ceremony, including survivors of the attack, their descendants, peace activists and representatives from some 80 countries and regions.
While Mr Abe was delivering the speech, demonstrators gathered around the park to protest against a move to revise the pacifist Constitution and other policies that they say could bring war to Japan, as well as the recent scandals that have led to Mr Abe’s approval rating plunging.
Hundreds of protesters were present, holding banners and shouting slogans such as “Oppose war and Constitution revision” and “Abe shall step down”.
Mr Takehiko Matsumoto, a protester from Sendai, said: “I’m against Abe attending this ceremony, for his administration only protects the interests of some people, and he tries to revise the pacifist Constitution and could drag Japan into war.”
Japanese officials have criticised the UN nuclear weapon ban treaty as deepening a divide between countries with and without nuclear arms.
None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons took part in the negotiations or the vote on the treaty.
Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation’s defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella.
Japan suffered two nuclear attacks at the end of World War II by the US – in Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945 and in Nagasaki three days later. The bombings claimed the lives of 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later.
Japan announced its surrender in World War II on Aug 15, 1945.
Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians, and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons.
But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings.
Mr Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in May last year, paying a moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, XINHUA