Japan's Hiroshima marks 74th atomic bomb anniversary

Hiroshima, a Japanese city hit by a U.S. atomic bomb at the end of World War II, marked the 74th anniversary of the bombing on Tuesday.

Visitors pray for the atomic bomb victims in front of the cenotaph at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Western Japan on August 6, 2019. Japan marks the 74th anniversary of the first atomic bomb that was dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. [Photo: Aflo via VCG/Richard Atrero de Guzman]

An annual memorial ceremony, held at the Peace Memorial Park near Ground Zero, was attended by about 50,000 audiences paying respect, including representatives from about 90 countries and regions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a speech during the ceremony, stressing the importance of continuing efforts to realize "a world free of nuclear weapons."

Visitors pray for the atomic bomb victims in front of the cenotaph at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Western Japan on August 6, 2019. Japan marks the 74th anniversary of the first atomic bomb that was dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. [Photo: Aflo via VCG/Richard Atrero de Guzman]

As the only country that has experienced atomic bombings in war, Japan's duty to eliminate nuclear weapons remains unchanged even in the Reiwa era, Abe said.

Japan is determination to serve tenaciously as a mediator between nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states and take the lead in making such efforts in the international community, he said.

Japan will also continue to promote policies considerate of "hibakusha," namely atomic bomb survivors in Japan, he added.

Residents light candles to mourn victims in the early morning prior to the memorial service for atomic bomb victims at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on August 6, 2019. [Photo: JIJI PRESS/AFP via VCG]

Kazumi Matsui, mayor of Hiroshima, delivered the Peace Declaration commemorating 74 years since the atomic bombing. He called on the central government to "accede" to the request from hibakusha that the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons be "signed and ratified."

"I urge Japan's leaders to manifest the pacifism of the Japanese Constitution by displaying leadership in taking the next step toward a world free from nuclear weapons," Matsui said.

People pray for victims prior to the memorial service for atomic bomb victims at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on August 6, 2019. [Photo: JIJI PRESS/AFP via VCG]

A uranium-core atomic bomb named "Little Boy," dropped onto Hiroshima in western Japan by a U.S. bomber, exploded above the city at 8:15 a.m. local time on Aug. 6, 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the same year.

Nagasaki was also hit by an atomic bomb on Aug. 9, 1945, prompting Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.