Hundreds of protesters gathered near Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome to demand nuclear disarmament and oppose the US-Japan ‘war alliance,’ clashing with police who tried to forcibly remove them. The demonstrators, who gathered during the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing, criticized Tokyo’s ongoing military buildup, including rising defense budgets, large-scale U.S.-Japan drills, and its interest in nuclear sharing, which would allow Washington to station its nuclear weapons in non-nuclear states. Photos and videos posted on social media showed a heavy police presence as protesters carried placards reading "The Japan-U.S. alliance is a war alliance" and "Stop nuclear war."
At some point, the demonstrators attempted to stage a sit-in, prompting officers to try and forcibly remove them after demanding they "leave." Several videos showed police grabbing protesters sitting on the ground, with local media reporting that at least one person was detained for allegedly assaulting a security official during the protest. Meanwhile, the official commemoration ceremony held nearby was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, who unveiled a new list of the 349,246 victims of the U.S. atomic bombing. The previous casualty estimates linked to both strikes put the number of victims at over 200,000, including those who perished in the strikes and died from their long-term consequences.
US and UK representatives were also present at the ceremony alongside officials from 120 other foreign nations and regions. However, none of the speakers at the ceremony reportedly mentioned the U.S. as the nation that dropped the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. The protest and ceremony highlight the deep-seated tensions surrounding Japan’s security policy and its relationship with the United States, raising concerns about nuclear proliferation and the potential for renewed militarization.