“On July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the first nuclear explosion in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico—causing radioactive ash to rain down, contaminating the land, water, food and air throughout the region. Just weeks later, Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first cities to experience the hell on Earth of nuclear weapon attacks on August 6 and 9, 1945.”

This was the opening paragraph of the “Joint Interfaith Statement Marking 80 Years Since the First Use of Nuclear Weapons,” which SGI and other faith groups that are committed to the work of abolishing nuclear weapons coordinated together. To date, the statement has been endorsed by 86 organizations from diverse religious and spiritual traditions. 

The statement also says, “...as people of faith, we bring our gifts, insights, and positionalities to forward efforts for peace, right relationship, and nuclear abolition—motivated and guided not only by the apocalyptic terror of nuclear weapons and the intolerable suffering caused by nuclearism, but also by the powerful collaborative work of justice and peace.” It was with this spirit that SGI engaged in various activities in July and August 2025, honoring the 80th commemoration of the beginning of the nuclear age and pledging that we must usher in a peaceful future. 

In Hiroshima, the local Soka Gakkai organization organized various youth-led events in the month of August. On 3 August, the Hiroshima Youth Division of Soka Gakkai held a peace training forum, “Hiroshima Action Forum,” at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. At the forum, the Hiroshima Youth Peace Committee shared activity reports, followed by greetings from Youth Division Leader Watanabe, who stressed the importance of carrying on the testimony of hibakusha and building momentum toward nuclear abolition.

The participants then listened to the testimony of Ms. Hiroe Sato, head of the NPO Hiroshima Peace Station (HPS) International Volunteers. As a child of seven, she entered the devastated city with her mother two days after the bombing in search of her mobilized brother, witnessing a landscape of ashes and countless bodies being hauled away. Having lost her brother and her home, she later supported her younger siblings, inspired by her mother’s words to live on in her brother’s stead. In 2005, she founded HPS to share the lessons of Hiroshima with the world, emphasizing that war and nuclear weapons must never be allowed again. Following her testimony, participants discussed future peace activities, with youth leaders pledging to continue the peace efforts of Soka Gakkai’s successive presidents. They concluded with a fieldwork session at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to deepen their understanding of the realities of the atomic bombing.

One of the youth participants commented, “Hearing Ms. Sato’s firsthand testimony of the atomic bombing—how she lost family and friends in an instant and survived despite suffering deep wounds—brought the sorrow and anguish of that time vividly and tangibly to my heart. The words that stayed with me were, ‘The peace movement is a struggle against fading from memory.’”

On 5 August, the 200th lecture of the “Hiroshima Studies Lecture Series for Peace” was held at the Hiroshima Ikeda Peace Memorial Hall. Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered the lecture, titled “The Abolition of Nuclear Weapons and Role of Youth in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.” Prof. Marwala urged the participants:

“Today, we are witnessing how fear is manifesting in militarization, the erosion of trust and a retreat from diplomacy. To build lasting peace, we must confront the fear that lies at the root of global disorder.

Peace is not created by systems or treaties alone. It is built by people. Through education, dialogue and the patient work of fostering a ‘culture of peace,’ we can replace fear with trust. This is precisely the task before us today. And it begins right where we stand.”

In addition, on 6 and 9 August, commemorative prayer meetings were held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. In attendance were hibakusha, bereaved families and representatives from various divisions of the local Soka Gakkai organizations. Together they offered prayers for the victims of nuclear weapons and war worldwide, and  renewed their vow for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting peace through chanting and incense offering.

In the United States, the SGI-USA co-sponsored an event titled “80 Years and Still Waiting: A World Without Nuclear Weapons,” held on 13 July 2025 at Saint Pius X School. Other co-sponsors included the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Social Justice and Respect for Life Office, Back From the Brink New Mexico Hub, the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and other organizations. 

Melissa Parke of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons delivered a keynote speech that emphasized nuclear disarmament as an existential global security imperative, while Tina Cordova of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium spoke movingly about the lasting human toll of the Trinity test. Dr. Ira Helfand, past president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and co-founder of its U.S. affiliate, Physicians for Social Responsibility, highlighted past breakthroughs in the U.S.-Soviet nuclear dialogue as proof that progress is possible. Youth voices like SGI-USA member Eddie Laiche underscored the importance of rejecting the madness of nuclear stockpiling in favor of respect for the sanctity of life. Concluding the event, SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss shared SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s message of individual empowerment, urging participants to transform feelings of powerlessness into determined action for a world free of nuclear weapons.

SGI also co-sponsored a series of events in Honolulu, Hawaii that were organized by the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation. Speaking at one such event, the 32nd Annual Nagasaki Peace Ceremony held at the Honolulu Hale (City Hall), Danny Nagashima of SGI-USA shared that his family comes from Hiroshima and some of his family members and friends experienced the atomic bombing in 1945. He also shared the history of the Soka Gakkai and its founding presidents, who all stood up against war and militarism. The event ended by ringing the Nagasaki Peace Bell, a gift from the people of Nagasaki, to commemorate the victims of war. 

SGI-USA representatives also joined the Nuclear Prayer Day Vigil: 80th Anniversaries of Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Washington, D.C. on 6 August. Held at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill, the event gathered faith leaders, peace advocates and community members. Participants honored the victims of the atomic bombings and recommitted to the urgent work of nuclear abolition through music, prayer, reflection and calls to action. Jo Reed of SGI-USA shared her personal journey as a Buddhist and about her visits to Hiroshima, which deepened her commitment to nuclear abolition. She also spoke about a Buddhist perspective on nuclear weapons, which views them as reflecting fundamental darkness—the delusions that fuel hatred and disregard for life. 

The D.C. vigil was one of the many activities held this year in observance of Nuclear Prayer Day, an initiative spearheaded by the Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons of the United Religions Initiative (URI). The group has been marking 6 August as Nuclear Prayer Day since 2022, inviting all individuals of good will and all organizations of concern to draw strength from each other’s deepest convictions and longings for a better future. Along with Monica Willard of URI, Anna Ikeda of SGI co-chaired this year’s Nuclear Prayer Day, which was endorsed by 36 partner organizations. Through monthly programs, social media and local events, hundreds of people participated in Nuclear Prayer Day activities. Ikeda also co-moderated one of the program streams on 6 August with Michael Ramos of Voices. 

Ikeda reflected, “It has been 80 years since nuclear weapons were invented and used for the first time in history, and the world is still grappling with their dangers. What gives me hope is, of course, the tenacity and perseverance of hibakusha and those from frontline communities, as well as other activists and leaders of our movement. In addition, it is my faith that has always reminded me why nuclear weapons are immoral and must be abolished—and my Buddhist faith fuels my hope that it is absolutely possible.”