Arab News Japan

TOKYO: About 500 anti-war and anti-nuclear civic groups demonstrated near the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima on Wednesday, coinciding with an official ceremony commemorating the victims of the atomic bombing.

The ceremony and demonstration were both significant due to their historical connection, as Wednesday, August 6, marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. attack on western Japan — a day that will forever be remembered in the history of Hiroshima.

Demonstrators peacefully protested American wars and Israel’s actions in Gaza, as well as nuclear states, calling for an end to all conflicts and emphasizing their commitment to non-violent activism.

That stood in contrast to the solemnity of the occasion, where Japanese government officials, including the Prime Minister, and guests from approximately 120 countries and regions listened to the Peace Declaration delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima.

During the demonstration, a clash occurred with the anti-riot police, resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the removal of over 30 others from the venue for ‘forcible obstruction of business.’

The city prohibited entry to the ceremony venue starting at 5 a.m. At the city’s request, police forcibly removed more than 30 individuals who ignored warnings from the venue.

Local media reported that two men who were participating in the rally, were arrested on the spot for “assaulting” a security guard. It marks the first arrest in two years related to the Peace Memorial Ceremony, highlighting the rarity of such incidents.