The Japanese city of Hiroshima (広島市, Hiroshima-shi?) (listen ) is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan's islands. It is known throughout the world as the first city in history subjected to nuclear warfare when it was bombed by the United States of America during World War II.
Hiroshima gained municipality status on April 1, 1889 and was designated on April 1, 1980 by government ordinance. The city's current mayor is Tadatoshi Akiba who assumed the office on February 23, 1999.
