Dozens of Japanese citizens gathered in Hiroshima on Thursday, to protest US President Barack Obama's visit to Hiroshima and the two countries' intended political manipulation of the city.

The protesters held banners that read: "Get rid of all nukes immediately", "Remove all US bases from Okinawa" and "We won't let you use military alliances to start your next war" and shouted: "You're not welcome here, Obama and Abe" and "Get out of Hiroshima" in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The protesters included labor union members and college students, as well as survivors and relatives of victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.