The Hiroshima prefectural government has extended a historic invitation to newly-inaugurated US President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to visit the city for the 80th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bomb attack. The invitation, delivered via the US Embassy in Tokyo, comes as Japan reflects on the enduring impact of the 1945 bombing, as reported by Kyodo News.

Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki wrote in his letter to Trump that the city’s unique position as the site of the first atomic bombing makes it a powerful symbol in the global fight for nuclear disarmament. He highlighted that Trump, as the new US leader, possesses a unique opportunity to spearhead efforts for a nuclear-free world. "You alone have the capacity... to lead the world toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby saving humanity from the horrors of nuclear holocaust," the governor’s letter reads.

Yuzaki further expressed that Trump’s visit would send a strong message of peace and encourage nuclear-armed nations to work toward the abolition of these devastating weapons.

Trump’s visit to Hiroshima would be a powerful moment in international relations, especially considering the city’s deep scars from the 1945 bombing. The invitation also comes with a request for Trump to meet with survivors of the bombing, known as hibakusha, whose firsthand accounts offer a poignant reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare.

Shiro Suzuki, mayor of Nagasaki, Japan’s other atomic bomb city, echoed the sentiment, expressing his hope that Trump would also visit Nagasaki. Suzuki stressed that a visit to both sites would provide the US president with a profound understanding of the atomic bombings' impact. "I would like for him to visit the bomb sites and directly witness the reality of the bombings," Suzuki said.

While the invitation carries no official diplomatic weight, and is not backed by the Japanese government, it underscores Japan’s desire for a global commitment to peace and disarmament. Whether Trump will accept the invitation remains uncertain, but the offer serves as a significant gesture by the iconic Japanese cities towards reconciliation and a world free of nuclear weapons.