Today, Japan marked 68 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima - even as the government came under criticism for its push to promote its nuclear technology outside the nation.
50,000 people came to Peace Park for the ceremony, offering prayers.
They also observed a minute of silence.
Just after 8 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city releasing a mix of shock waves, heat rays, and radiation.
The death toll by the end of 1945 was estimated at about 140,000.
Three days after the attack on Hiroshima, the U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb on the southern city of Nagasaki.
Japan surrendered to the World War II allies six days later.
Today's ceremony was topped off by Japan's prime minister's speech on his country's duty to press for a world without nuclear weapons.
