Tokyo, Aug. 6 -- Japan on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, paying tribute to the victims of one of history's deadliest wartime attacks while renewing its call for a world free of nuclear weapons.

According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the annual remembrance ceremony was held at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, where Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae joined representatives from a record 123 countries and regions to honour those who lost their lives in the bombing.

As part of the ceremony, an updated register of atomic bomb victims was placed inside the park's cenotaph. According to NHK, the list now contains the names of 353,639 people, including survivors who passed away over the past year. Part...