ISTOCK
If you travel to Japan today and visit the city of Hiroshima, you’ll find a peaceful place filled with parks, schools, trams, and the quiet sounds of city life. But on one morning in August, many years ago, Hiroshima became the centre of an event that would change the world forever. Every year, on the 6th of August, people all over the world remember Hiroshima Day—not just to think about a moment in history, but to remind everyone why peace is precious.
The story of Hiroshima begins during World War II, a conflict that involved many countries and lasted from 1939 to 1945. By 1945, the war was nearly over, but fighting was still fierce in the Pacific. Scientists in America had developed a weapon unlike any other—a bomb that used the power locked inside atoms. This new “atomic bomb” was the most powerful explosive ever made, and no one outside a small group of scientists and military leaders had any idea what it could do.
On the morning of 6th August 1945, as people in Hiroshima went about their daily lives—children getting ready for school, workers heading to factories, shopkeepers opening their doors—an American plane called the Enola Gay flew high above the city. At 8:15 a.m., it dropped a single bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy”. In a flash, the bomb exploded in the sky above Hiroshima, releasing a massive wave of heat, light, and energy. Buildings were flattened in seconds, windows shattered for miles, and fires broke out everywhere. The centre of the city was almost completely destroyed.
The power of the atomic bomb was beyond anything the world had ever seen. In just a few moments, tens of thousands of people lost their lives. Many more were injured or made sick by the intense heat and radiation the bomb released. Survivors—who became known as hibakusha—faced a difficult road, struggling with injuries and illnesses that sometimes lasted for years. Yet, in the days and months that followed, the people of Hiroshima showed incredible courage. Families helped each other, strangers shared what little food and water they had, and doctors worked around the clock in makeshift hospitals. Slowly, the city began to rebuild.
News of the bombing shocked people all over the globe. Some believed that using such a powerful weapon would finally bring the long, terrible war to an end. Others were horrified by the destruction and loss of life. Just three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Shortly after, Japan surrendered, and World War II came to an end.
But Hiroshima’s story didn’t end there. In the years that followed, the city became a symbol—a warning of the dangers of nuclear weapons and a hope for a more peaceful future. Each year, on Hiroshima Day, people gather at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, near the ruins of the old Genbaku Dome, one of the few buildings left standing after the blast. There, they hold a ceremony with speeches, songs, and the release of white doves, symbols of peace. Thousands of paper lanterns float down the river at sunset, carrying wishes and prayers for a world without war.
Children in Hiroshima and around the world often learn the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who survived the bombing but later became sick because of the radiation. While she was in hospital, Sadako began folding origami cranes—paper birds that, in Japanese legend, grant a wish if you fold a thousand of them. Sadako folded over a thousand cranes, wishing for her own recovery and for peace. Today, children from all over the world send paper cranes to Hiroshima, and you can see thousands of colourful birds at the Children’s Peace Monument in the city.
Hiroshima Day isn’t just about remembering the past. It’s a time to think about the choices we make as individuals, communities, and countries. Scientists and leaders from many nations have worked to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world, and organisations like the United Nations encourage countries to solve problems by talking, not fighting. In schools, children learn about Hiroshima to understand why peace, kindness, and respect are important, even when disagreements happen.
If you visit Hiroshima now, you’ll see a vibrant, green city full of life. The Peace Memorial Park is quiet and beautiful, with flowers, trees, and the sound of the river flowing nearby. School groups gather to read poems, listen to survivors’ stories, and promise to carry the message of peace into the future.
The people of Hiroshima rebuilt their city and shared their message with the world: that the true strength of humanity lies not in powerful weapons, but in the courage to choose peace, the willingness to help others, and the dream of a safer world for everyone.
ISTOCK
The bomb dropped over the city on 6 August 1945 was nicknamed “Little Boy.” It was the first atomic bomb ever used in war.
ISTOCK
The Genbaku Dome (now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome) was one of the only structures left standing near the bomb’s blast centre. Today, it’s a symbol of peace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is a Peace Watch Tower in the city that records how many days have passed since the world’s last nuclear weapon test.
Although many trees were destroyed in the blast, some—including ancient camphor and ginkgo trees—sprouted new leaves and still grow today as “survivor trees.”
Every year, students from around the world write letters and send paper cranes to be displayed at the Children’s Peace Monument.
The Peace Flame, lit in 1964, will stay burning in the park until every nuclear weapon in the world is destroyed.
After the war, the city dedicated itself to promoting peace and nuclear disarmament, welcoming visitors from around the world.
Inspired by Sadako Sasaki’s story, people from all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to the Peace Memorial Park, wishing for peace.
ISTOCK
On Hiroshima Day, thousands of paper lanterns are released on the Motoyasu River at sunset, each carrying a message of hope or remembrance.