The Flame of Peace was designed by Kenzo Tange, then professor at the University of Tokyo in 1964.

The pedestal expresses the shape of two hands pressed together at the wrist and bent back so that the palms open up toward the sky, a design which is to console the souls of victims who craved water, and wish for nuclear abolition and everlasting world peace.

The flame has burned continually since it was lit on August 1, 1964, and symbolizes the fervent anti-nuclear commitment to "burning the flame until the day when all such weapons shall have disappeared from the earth."

Every year, the Flame of Peace Relay is held, with people running through cities, towns and villages in Hiroshima Prefecture to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and improvement of support for survivors. Also, the flame is used as a symbol of peace to light other flames in various events. In 1994, for instance, the flame was used to light the sacred fire of the Asian Games held in Hiroshima City.