Hiroshima University (HU) marked the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing on August 6, with its annual memorial service to remember the victims.

The ceremony is held yearly in front of HU's "Memorial Monument for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb" on the Higashi-Senda Campus. It honors the staff, faculty, and students from HU's predecessor schools who were directly affected by the atomic bombing and later lost their lives.

This year’s memorial service was again conducted while prioritizing the well-being and safety of the bereaved families and attendees, particularly due to the risk of heatstroke. In addition to the families and university staff, around 50 university presidents from major institutions around the world—attending the first University Presidents for Peace Conference—also participated in the ceremony.

HU President Mitsuo Ochi and a representative of the bereaved families dedicated a register listing the names of 2,099 A-bomb victims to the cenotaph. This list included 19 individuals who were recently confirmed to have passed away. During the ceremony, participants observed a minute of silence.

In his address, President Ochi reflected on HU's commitment to peace. "We will continue to actively contribute to the realization of a free and peaceful international society and to the well-being of mankind. May I take this opportunity to pledge that Hiroshima University will remain committed to the mission of 'The Pursuit of Peace' 100 years from now," he said.

Flowers and water were offered to the cenotaph and to the adjacent “Monument of the Buried Remains of the A-bomb Victims” to comfort the souls of the victims.

University officials, Malaysian students studying at HU, and other related parties also visited the grave of Mr. Nik Yusof at Kozenji Temple in Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City. Yusof was a Malaysian exchange student studying at Hiroshima University of Literature and Science, one of HU's forerunners, when he fell victim to the atomic bombing. They paid their respects and expressed their condolences.

Click here for the full text of President Mitsuo Ochi's memorial service address (Japanese) (English).