Japan Observes 78th Anniversary Of Hiroshima A-Bombing With Calls For Peace & Disarmament. IN PICS

Japan marks the 78th anniversary of the United States atomic bombing of Hiroshima, remembering the victims of history's first nuclear attack.

People pray for the A-Bomb victims in front of the cenotaph on the 78th anniversary of the Hiroshima A-Bomb dropping at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on August 6, 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan.

A Solemn Commemoration: Japan marked the 78th anniversary of the United States atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, remembering the victims of history's first nuclear attack. (Image Source: Getty)

Gathering in Remembrance: Thousands gather for the memorial ceremony, including survivors, relatives, and representatives from 111 countries, joining hands in prayer for those lost and wounded, and calling for a world free of conflict. (Image Source: Getty)

Tolling the Peace Bell: The peace bell rings at 8:15 am, mirroring the time the bomb fell, as 50,000 participants brave the sweltering heat to observe a moment of silence in the outdoor memorial ceremony. (Image Source: Getty)

Hiroshima's Plea for Disarmament: Mayor Kazumi Matsui urges the abolition of nuclear weapons and criticizes the concept of nuclear deterrence, calling it a "folly" in the face of global nuclear threats. (Image Source: Getty)

Renewing the Call for Peace: As Japan honours the memory of Hiroshima's tragedy, voices grow stronger, calling for a world where nuclear weapons are relegated to history, and a lasting peace takes precedence on the global stage. (Image Source: Getty)

Following the 'Trinity Test' on July 16, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, nicknamed 'Little Boy,' killing approximately 140,000 people by the end of the year. (Image Source: Getty)

On August 9, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and Japan surrendered a week later on August 15, effectively ending World War II. (Image Source: Getty)

The events effectively ended Japan's nearly half-century of Asian aggression. After the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the US Naval Base in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. (Image Source: Getty)

According to the National WWII Museum in the United States, the attack was in response to the United States' act of supplying weapons to Great Britain in the fight against Nazis in Germany, as well as its efforts to halt Japan's military expansion in Asia and the Pacific. (Image Source: Getty)