A survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and long-time anti-nuclear activist has attended a ceremony to mark the 78th anniversary of the attack on the Japanese city.

Setsuko Thurlow, who now lives in Canada, appeared at the ceremony held in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park on Sunday. She last took part in the annual event in 2015.

Speaking at a news conference, the 91-year-old said that she was grateful to be able to attend the solemn ceremony. She said it was not easy for her to recall her memories of the bombing, but she added that it was great to be able to spend time together with the many people in Hiroshima who are working for peace.

She called into question the lack of opportunities for atomic bomb survivors to take the podium to speak. She said she believes that many survivors have something they want to say from the bottom of their hearts before they pass away. She asked that such opportunities be created for them.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio spoke at the ceremony. Thurlow said she appreciated some of his remarks, such as his pledge to uphold Japan's three non-nuclear principles.

But she said that she would have preferred to hear more forceful words from Kishida about specific actions and plans toward the envisioned abolition of nuclear weapons. She said she was disappointed that his speech did not mention what the survivors have been demanding for more than 70 years.