02:21Thousands of people gathered by the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima on Tuesday to take part in a lantern ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
Footage shows thousands of colourful lanterns floating down the river, accompanied by background music. Participants can be seen releasing lanterns with messages of peace and love, while others capture the moment on their phones or pray.
"I wrote my hometown name Hiratsuka city, Hiroshima and 'I love peace'," shared Takahashi, an attendee.
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, resulting in the combined deaths of over 200,000 people.
The bombings remain the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.
The memorial event has taken place annually since 1947.
For peace! Lantern ceremony in Hiroshima commemorates 79th anniversary of atomic bombing
Thousands of people gathered by the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima on Tuesday to take part in a lantern ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
Footage shows thousands of colourful lanterns floating down the river, accompanied by background music. Participants can be seen releasing lanterns with messages of peace and love, while others capture the moment on their phones or pray.
"I wrote my hometown name Hiratsuka city, Hiroshima and 'I love peace'," shared Takahashi, an attendee.
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, resulting in the combined deaths of over 200,000 people.
The bombings remain the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.
The memorial event has taken place annually since 1947.
Thousands of people gathered by the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima on Tuesday to take part in a lantern ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
Footage shows thousands of colourful lanterns floating down the river, accompanied by background music. Participants can be seen releasing lanterns with messages of peace and love, while others capture the moment on their phones or pray.
"I wrote my hometown name Hiratsuka city, Hiroshima and 'I love peace'," shared Takahashi, an attendee.
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, resulting in the combined deaths of over 200,000 people.
The bombings remain the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.
The memorial event has taken place annually since 1947.