Nagasaki Marks 80 Years Since Atomic Bombing Amid Calls for Nuclear Abolition
Mayor Shiro Suzuki delivered a statement expressing concern over the growing risk of nuclear war. He urged world leaders to set out concrete steps toward abolition.
Quoting the late Senji Yamaguchi, former chairman of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, the mayor called on civil society to build trust and solidarity through dialogue and exchange.
At the time of the bombing, Nagasaki's population was about 240,000. By the end of December 1945, 73,884 people had died from the bombing, and another 74,909 were injured. The intense heat, blast waves, and radiation caused severe illnesses known as radiation sickness, which have tormented many survivors. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki delivers the Peace Declaration during the ceremony.
In 2025, for the first time, the number of atomic bomb survivors nationwide fell below 100,000. The average age of survivors is now 86.13 years. Under these circumstances, questions are emerging over how best to preserve their memories and broaden relief efforts.
In 2024, the city excluded Israel from the ceremony, an action it said was in protest of military actions against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, foreign ambassadors from all G7 nations except Japan were absent. Bystanders observe a moment of silence at 11:02 AM on August 9, commemorating the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
All countries and regions with diplomatic missions in Japan were invited this year (2025). Russia received its first invitation in four years, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
As of August 6, 95 countries and regions, along with the European Union (EU), were expected to attend. In 2024, a record 100 countries and regions participated.
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
( Read this in Japanese )
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(Read the essay translated into Japanese) Author: Sakura Morie Student, Ehime Prefectural Saijo High School, Ehime Prefecture このページを 日本語 で読む
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Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That, at least, was the hope. And then it all fell apart. It fell apart for one simple reason: Hamas understands the West far better than the West understands Hamas. Hamas understands that if it forces the suffering of its people, if it maximizes and even falsifies media coverage of that suffering, then the West will rehabilitate Hamas and grant it its demands. 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