Initiatives commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombing

Article ID 1037042　

被爆80周年キービジュアル

1) Aim of our initiatives

Global tensions are at a high: around the globe, new conflicts are erupting, and old conflicts are unending. In addition to concerns about the risk of nuclear weapons use, nuclear-weapon-states continue to plan to modernize and bolster their nuclear arsenals.

In light of this, the City of Hiroshima believes that we must form consensus in civil society regarding our aim for a world free of nuclear weapons, as well as build momentum to push changes in policy instead of reliance on nuclear deterrence on a global scale. This is why we are pursuing initiatives for the promotion of the culture of peace together with Mayors for Peace member cities both in Japan and abroad.

2025 marks the 80th year since the atomic bombing, and now more than ever, the importance of initiatives for the realization of nuclear weapons abolition and lasting world peace, as well as the need to promote said initiatives, could not be greater. In addition, with the recent G7 Hiroshima Summit held in May 2023, the world witnessed Hiroshima’s existence as a city that aims for the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, and the importance of the initiatives that have been carried out by the City of Hiroshima were reaffirmed.　

For all these reasons, in this 80th year since the atomic bombing, we shall hold commemorative events according to six distinct themes and two mainstays: one is our time-honored memorial service for the victims of the bombing and support for hibakusha, and the other is the newly added promotion of the culture of peace. We must also look to the future with our initiatives. The progression of the aging of the war survivor and hibakusha population continues. In light of this, we must pass down the Will of Hiroshima to the next generation by promoting not just initiative planning by the younger generation, but also active participation in these initiatives to foster the next generation of peace culture leaders. We must also be mindful of the importance of expanding our network of solidarity with cities at home and abroad.

We will also raise awareness for initiatives commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombing, including commemorative events, by utilizing logos, etc., and we would like to take this milestone year as an opportunity to support private sector-led initiatives more than ever before so as to develop initiatives that promote the culture of peace—including the arts and sports—not as municipal government initiatives, but as initiatives by all of our citizens, including local businesses and more.

2) Our basic policies

In light of the aims listed above, we will provide enhanced support for citizen-led initiatives that contribute to the promotion of the culture of peace, as well as carry out commemorative events in accordance with the following two mainstays and six themes.

(1) Commemorative events

(a) Memorial service for the victims of the bombing and support for hibakusha
In this milestone year, we will hold a memorial service for the victims of the atomic bombing with an even greater number of participants from home and abroad. We will also continue our support for the aging hibakusha.

(b) Promotion of the culture of peace

(i) Appreciation of peace through cultural arts and sports events
In this milestone year, we will hold cultural arts and sports events (etc.) to provide participants will the opportunity to appreciate the peace they currently enjoy.
(ii) Provide opportunities for learning and activities that share the will for peace
In light of the current need to foster the next generation of peace culture leaders, we will proactively work to provide peace education for young people and places where citizens and visitors can learn about peace.
(iii) Convey our desire for peace through our cityscape
Conduct projects for both hard and soft infrastructure to convey our desire for peace through our cityscape, including landscapes, buildings, and more.
(iv) Create an environment where people can relate to the reality of the atomic bombing
In light of the aging of war survivors and hibakusha, we will proactively engage in initiatives for the preservation/usage of buildings and trees that survived the atomic bombing as they convey the reality of the bombing, as well as initiatives which use new digital technology to convey the experience of the bombing.
(v) Raise international awareness of Hiroshima as a city of peace
In this milestone year, we will actively engage in holding international exchange events and conveying messages of peace (etc.) to domestic and international audiences.

(2) Support for citizen-led initiatives that contribute to the promotion of the culture of peace

Through activities such as the usage of the official logo for observing 80 years since the atomic bombing, posting project and event information on the City of Hiroshima website (etc.), and official song usage, we aim to cooperate in conducting cohesive PR for projects commemorating this milestone year as a gesture of unified support for citizen-led initiatives that contribute to the promotion of the culture of peace.

3) Projects and events (Japanese)

(1) Information as of February 2024

(2) Information as of February 2025

Information for reference

The City of Hiroshima has established a logo and promotional poster to be used on fliers and pamphlets that advertise events related to initiatives to commemorate 80 years since the atomic bombing, as well as an official song to be used during commemorative events or when advertising via digital signage. We hope that these will help to widely publicize commemorative initiatives as well as provide an element of cohesion.

(1) Official logo

We established this logo based on the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Collaboration Tourism Project logo, which is one of the milestone year commemorative projects, for PR use inside and outside of Japan. Our intent is to clearly convey that this is the 80th year since the atomic bombing and to conduct cohesive PR in cooperation with the City of Nagasaki—a city that also experienced the horrors of the atomic bombing. Please note that the following documents are in Japanese.

イラスト：被爆80周年ロゴマーク

(2) Promotional poster

In order to widely promote initiatives to commemorate 80 years since the atomic bombing with a sense of cohesion, we have created a promotional poster. This poster features a winning photograph from the FY2024 Peace Tourism Photo Contest, held annually by the City of Hiroshima, that symbolizes Hiroshima in its 80th year since the bombing.

被爆80周年キービジュアル

(3) Official song

The Hiroshima Peace Song has been designated as the official song of initiatives commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombing. It was written for the Peace Festival held on August 6, 1947 and has been sung every year at the Peace Memorial Ceremony. The song was created in the spirit of making the City of Hiroshima the origin of peace: a place where all visitors, whether from home or abroad, could share in the will for peace.

Japanese version

English version

Instrumental　version

Music box version

Lending services for CDs of the Hiroshima Peace Song (Japanese version; contains choral and karaoke versions) and sheet music are available. For details, please see the following link.

The Hiroshima Peace Song (Japanese)

Inquiries regarding this page

Policy Planning Section, Policy Planning Division, Policy Planning Department, Planning and General Affairs Bureau
1-6-34 Kokutaiji-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
☎ 082-504-2014
✉ [email protected]

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Initiatives commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombing

1) Aim of our initiatives