History is full of consequential moments, and no where is that more apparent than in Hiroshima, Japan.
The city is known to history students worldwide for its role at the end of World War II. But, in the seven decades since, Hiroshima has evolved as a major tourist attraction and a place to reflect on the past.
To this day, people debate the pros and cons of atomic weapons; their use remains controversial, and the development of such weapons still plays a role in the nation’s foreign affairs (to wit: Iran). Every year, the city, residents and world leaders take a moment today to remember the events of Aug. 6, 1945.
“Seventy years on, I reemphasize the necessity of world peace,” The Washington Post quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying during a memorial service today. “We have to continue our effort to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. It is our responsibility, and it is our duty.”