Mourning Japanese Mark World’s First Atomic Attack

Tens of thousands of mourners bowed their heads in prayer and laid yellow-and-white wreaths Tuesday in a solemn ceremony marking the 51st anniversary of the world’s first atomic attack.

At precisely 8:15 a.m., the moment the bomb exploded over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, a bronze bell tolled, echoing in the muggy air.

The crowd packed into the city’s Peace Park - built at what was the epicenter of the blast - observed a moment of silence, broken only by the buzzing of cicadas.

A flock of doves took flight, and a pair of schoolchildren, standing before a flame that burns in tribute to the bomb’s 140,000 victims, said a plea for peace.

“No matter how much time passes, Hiroshima will never forget what happened,” Mayor Takashi Hiraoka said.

This year’s ceremony was shorter and more low-key than last year’s 50th anniversary, which was preceded by months of debate inside and outside Japan about the country’s wartime responsibility.

Many Japanese believe the atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unjustified, despite Japan’s war of aggression. U.S. wartime leaders defended the bombings as the only alternative to a bloody land invasion of Japan.

War victims, including forced laborers and women conscripted into military brothels, have demanded compensation from the Japanese government. Tokyo has refused to make direct payments to victims, although a private government-backed fund has been set up for that purpose.

Police estimate 30,000 people attended, compared to nearly 50,000 last year.