August 5, 2026

The 2026 nationwide Peace March calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons was greeted with a warm welcome in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima City after walking along various routes throughout Japan for three months.


Braving the extreme summer heat, a rally took place after the peace march arrived with 200 people, including marchers who walked all the way along the Tokyo-Hiroshima route and who participated in the international youth relay march.

Kanbe Yasushi, head of the Zenroren-affiliated Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of Trade Unions (Hiroshima-roren) delivered a speech in greeting. He said that before the atomic bomb was dropped, the area where the Atomic Bomb Dome stands was a bustling district with a population of 4,400. He appealed for the need to raise voices calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and “No” to war from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.

A participant in the international youth relay march, Albert Lozada, Peace Wave Philippines volunteer coordinator, stressed that uniting beyond borders and cultural barriers is necessary, and added, “It is our responsibility to build a better world.”