Nuclear powers join Hiroshima memorial

The site of the world’s worst atomic bomb attack echoed with the choirs of schoolchildren and the solemn ringing of bells as Hiroshima marked its biggest memorial yet – and the first to be attended by Britain, the US and other major nuclear powers.

Washington’s decision to send US ambassador John Roos to the 65th anniversary of the bombing was seen by many as potentially paving the way for Barack Obama to visit Hiroshima – which would be unprecedented for a sitting US leader.

Britain and France also made their first official appearance at the memorial, as well as United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon. Altogether, 74 nations were represented.

China, which sent a low-ranking official in 2008, was not participating. Officials said it did not give a reason.

Hiroshima was careful to ensure that the memorial – while honouring the 140,000 who died on or soon after the attack on August 6 1945 – emphasised a look-forward approach, focusing not on whether the bombing was justified, but on averting a future nuclear attack.

Mr Roos said the memorial was a chance to show resolve towards nuclear disarmament.

“For the sake of future generations, we must continue to work together to realise a world without nuclear weapons,” he said.

Mr Ban, who presented flowers at the Eternal Flame in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, said this year’s memorial would send a strong signal to the world that nuclear weapons must be destroyed.

“Life is short, but memory is long,” he said. “For many of you, that day endures... as vivid as the white light that seared the sky, as dark as the black rains that followed.”

Mr Ban said the time had come to move from “Ground Zero, to Global Zero” – a world without any nuclear arms.

Washington’s decision to attend the anniversary has been welcomed by Japan’s government, but has generated complex feelings among some Japanese who see the bombing as unjustified and want the US to apologise.

“Americans think that the bombing was reasonable because it speeded up the end of the war. They try to see it in a positive way,” Naomi Sawa, a 69-year-old former teacher, said after paying her respects to the dead. “But we were devastated.”

About 140,000 people were killed or died within months when the American B-29, Enola Gay, bombed Hiroshima. Three days later about 80,000 people died after the US attacked Nagasaki.

Japan surrendered on August 15, ending the Second World War.

Concerns that attending the ceremony – an emotional event beginning with the offering of water to the dead and a moment of silence to soothe their souls - would reopen old wounds had kept the US away until this year.

Former US president Jimmy Carter visited Hiroshima’s Peace Museum in 1984, years after he was out of office. The highest-ranking American to visit while in office was House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, who went in 2008. Mr Roos also visited Hiroshima soon after assuming his post last year.

None went for the annual memorial, however.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said in Washington yesterday that Mr Obama believed “it would be appropriate to recognise this anniversary” by sending Mr Roos.

The US State Department deemed the time was right to do so and it was a chance to push Mr Obama’s goal of nuclear disarmament.

Hiroshima’s mayor praised that position.

“We are encouraged that our voice is being heard,” Tadatoshi Akiba said in a speech at the ceremony. “It is the wish of the survivors of the bombing that the voices of peace will be heard.”

Mr Akiba called on the Japanese government to take a lead role in nuclear disarmament towards “turning a new page in human history”.

Hiroshima has invited Mr Obama to visit the city and he has expressed interest in doing so at some point while he is in office.

The number of survivors able to attend the ceremony is steadily falling as more die of old age.

According to Japan’s Kyodo news agency, the average age of the survivors is over 76 and the number of certified survivors has fallen to 227,565 from a peak of 370,000.