Nagasaki Cathedral Receives U.S.-Donated Bell to Replace Previous One Damaged in A-Bombing
Visitors look at a new bell donated to Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Saturday. The bell replaces the previous one damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing.
NAGASAKI — Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki has received a bell to replace one damaged due to the U.S. atomic bombing of the city. The new bell was completed under a U.S. project and is on display at a museum ahead of its installment.
Urakami Cathedral was destroyed along with its twin towers when the atomic bomb exploded about 500 meters away on Aug. 9, 1945. The south tower bell was found nearly intact, while the north tower one was severely damaged. The south tower bell is now in the cathedral's replacement building that was completed in 1959.
The donated bronze bell is almost the same size as its predecessor, measuring 66 centimeters in height, 80.7 centimeters in diameter and weighs 224 kilograms.
Prof. James Nolan Jr. at Williams College launched the project to create and donate the bell by soliciting support from Catholics in the country. The 62-year-old professor is the grandson of James Nolan, who participated in the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb.
The donated bell is on display through June 1 along with the damaged original. It is scheduled to be installed in the cathedral's north tower in July.
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The Mainichi
4 days ago
- The Mainichi
Nagasaki marks 80th A-bomb anniv. as survivors put hopes of nuke ban in hands of youth
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) -- The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb. The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on Aug. 9, 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II and the country's nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang. Nagasaki pledges to be the last atomic bombing site Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack. He said the city's memories of the bombing are "a common heritage and should be passed down for generations" in and outside Japan. "The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth," Suzuki said. "In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace." Praying for nuclear abolition and no war Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocenter Park, located below the bomb's exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony. "I simply seek a world without war," said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the Hypocenter monument decorated with colorful paper cranes and other offerings. Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japan's feudal era. The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers. Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction. Survivors put their hopes in younger hands Aging survivors and their supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack is not distant history, but an issue that remains relevant to their future. "There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war," survivor Fumi Takeshita said. "I only see a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace." In hopes of passing on the lessons of history, Takeshita visits schools to share her experience with children. "When you grow up and remember what you learned today, please think what each of you can do to prevent war," Takeshita, 83, told students during a school visit earlier this week. Teruko Yokoyama, an 83-year-old member of a Nagasaki organization supporting survivors, said she feels the absence of those she has worked, which fuels her strong desire to document the lives of remaining survivors. The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86. Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to recall the attack clearly. "We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages of the survivors and thier lifetime story," said Yokoyama, whose two sisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation. Her organization has started to digitalize the narratives of survivors for viewing on YouTube and other social media platforms with the help of a new generation. "There are younger people who are beginning to take action," Yokoyama told The Associated Press on Friday. "So I think we don't have to get depressed yet." Nagasaki hosted a "peace forum" on Friday where survivors shared their stories with more than 300 young people from around the country. Seiichiro Mise, a 90-year-old survivor, said he is handing seeds of "flowers of peace" to the younger generation in hopes of seeing them bloom. Japan's security dilemma Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence. They criticize the Japanese government's refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons because Japan, as an American ally, needs U.S. nuclear possession as deterrence. In Ishiba's speech, the prime mininister reiterated Japan's pursuit of a nuclear-free world and pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and non-nuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York City. Ishiba, however, did not mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty. Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony Saturday. China notably notified the city it would not be present without providing a reason. The ceremony last year stirred controversy due to the absence of the U.S. ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese city's refusal to invite Israel.
Asahi Shimbun
4 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
From acceptance to anger: Path trod by Nagasaki bomb survivors
Pope John Paul II kisses a resident of Megumi no Oka Nagasaki Genbaku Home during a visit to Nagasaki in February 1981. (Provided by Megumi no Oka Nagasaki Genbaku Home) NAGASAKI--Many of the victims of this city's atomic bombing initially found solace in the thought their deaths would be a beautiful sacrifice. That way of thinking would later change. The catalyst was a visit by Pope John Paul II. Nagasaki on Aug. 9 marked the 80th anniversary of its destruction from atomic bombing. Early accounts of people who lost loved ones in the attack were collated by Nagasaki Junshin Educational Corp., which operates schools from kindergarten to university, and published in 1961. One father described his daughter as 'a truly happy child.' He finally found his daughter, a second-year student at the senior high school, five days after the attack. She had burns over much of her body. He took her to a hospital, but her condition did not improve. Seemingly realizing she was slipping away, the daughter began to sing a hymn. But as her voice weakened, she said, 'I can't sing anymore.' 'I can't see.' She mouthed 'Goodbye' as a prayer died on her lips. Friends and others told the father how lucky he was to have shared such precious last moments with his daughter. One person surmised the father and daughter's deep Catholic faith was the glue that bound them so closely at such an emotionally wrought time. Bereaved family members head to a memorial ceremony held in September 1945 for the victims of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Records show that 214 students at Nagasaki Junshin Senior Girls' High School perished in the bombing. They were working as volunteers at a weapons factory when the bomb detonated over the port city. Chie Shijo, a native of Hiroshima city who relocated to Nagasaki in 2006, was among many who were deeply moved by the publication. She had worked as a curator at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which gave her access to all sorts of documents left behind by schools in the western city. But she had never come across anything like the Junshin volume. In her view, describing victims of the atomic bombing in a beautiful and pure way served only to push the barbarity and wretchedness of atomic weapons into the background. But she was curious as to how such a narrative arose in the first place. Takashi Nagai, a Catholic physician who died in 1951 at the age of 43, is said to have played a pivotal role in providing spiritual comfort to Catholics living in the Urakami district of Nagasaki after the bombing. His wife was among the tens of thousands killed in the attack, and he himself suffered serious injuries. He devoted his efforts to helping other victims. Takashi Nagai in his shelter called Nyokodo (Provided by the Takashi Nagai Memorial Museum) Nagai wrote 17 books from his hospital bed even while suffering from the effects of radiation exposure. Many of his works described the sense of guilt felt by survivors. The Urakami district, home to a cathedral of the same name, was ground zero in the bombing, which Nagai called 'divine providence.' He likened the victims to live animals sacrificed in religious ceremonies, known as burnt offerings, and said they were a sacrifice to God. Junshin operated a Catholic school in Urakami. Other accounts published in the volume contained references to burnt offerings. Years later, Nagai came under heavy criticism for seemingly having taken little issue with the atomic bombing. But since his works were written during the U.S. Occupation, Nagai likely found it difficult to say anything that the authorities did not approve of. The 1951 peace declaration issued by the Nagasaki city government on the anniversary of the bombing said the atomic attack hastened the end of war. Shijo felt that the survivors in Urakami must have believed what Nagai said as they tried to make sense of the magnitude of the destruction and anguished over questions about faith, justice and evil. 'The narrative of accepting the good people who died as being a sacrifice to God helped with the reconstruction of Nagasaki,' Shijo said. When Junshin rebuilt its school, it set aside a grave for the remains of the students who died in the bombing. Because the students were symbols of filial piety, Junshin also decided to construct a retirement home for those who lost family members and were left by themselves. POPE'S HEALING WORDS Pope John Paul II visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1981. In a speech in Hiroshima, the pontiff did not mince words, saying, 'War is the work of man.' 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Akira Shikayama, 59, works at the retirement home next to the main building. He was in junior high school when the pope visited the facility. Since working there, he has listened to and written down the accounts of about 300 hibakusha. While he has also read the Junshin volume given to him by a former superior, he realizes the facility where he now works has a special role to play. This year, a 91-year-old resident told him what she had endured and admitted she had not even told her family about her experiences. In 1949, the woman and her mother had moved to an outlying island, but the mother died from radiation exposure. Everyone in the community knew the cause of death and neighbors began shunning the family, the woman said. She had to walk a great distance to obtain milk for her younger brother. For decades, the woman never once talked about the discrimination she had faced. But in 2024 when Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the woman had a change of heart after she folded paper cranes to be sent to Oslo. She asked Shikayama for more time so she could also give her testimony. This summer, a memorial hall at the facility named after John Paul II displayed the results of many years of passing down the experiences of the hibakusha. Their accounts and art works are available to staff, residents, their families and visitors. 'The mission of this retirement home is to spread the testimony of residents to the world. That will not change in the future,' Shikayama said. Junshin students sing at the Aug. 9, 1961, memorial ceremony commemorating the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Nagasaki: 80 Years After Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, Both Bells at Famed Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki Set to Ring Again
NAGASAKI — After the arrival of a new bell to replace the one damaged in the 1945 atomic bombing, the two bells at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki are set to ring out today, to mark 80 years since the bombing. The cathedral and its two towers, about 500 meters from the hypocenter, collapsed in the bombing on Aug. 9, 1945. The north tower's bell fell into a nearby river and was severely damaged. The south tower's bell was found nearly intact in the rubble and was hung in the tower when the cathedral was rebuilt in 1959. The north tower remained without a new bell was donated as part of a project launched by James Nolan L. Jr., a professor at Williams College in the United States. The 62-year-old is the grandson of James F. Nolan, who was involved in the Manhattan Project, a U.S. program for the research and development of atomic bombs. Nolan Jr. started the project after meeting Kojiro Moriuchi, a second-generation atomic bomb survivor from Nagasaki. On July 17, the two rang the new bell together at a ceremony marking the restoration of the bell. Like the bell that was damaged, the new bell measures 66 centimeters tall and 80.7 centimeters in diameter and weighs 224 kilograms. The bronze bell is inscribed with Latin words praising God and an image of a Native American the ceremony, Nolan Jr. said that the sound of the bell was more beautiful than he expected. He added that he hopes it will become a 'symbol of peace, unity and hope.' Moriuchi, 72, who proposed the restoration of the bell to Nolan, also said that he was impressed with the echo of the bell. 'I hope the people of Nagasaki will hear how the two bells resonate with each other on Aug. 9,' he said. Moriuchi's father was exposed to the atomic bombing while working in a bomb shelter at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 90. One of Moriuchi's ancestors was among the 'hidden Christians' in the now Urakami district around the works as a guide at Atomic Bomb Museum at Yamazato Elementary School, which was about 600 meters away from the hypocenter. Nolan Jr.'s grandfather James Nolan was a medical doctor involved in radiation control and safety measures for the atomic bomb project. In the month following the bombings, he visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a member of a team investigating the effects of the bombs. He left behind a photograph of Urakami Cathedral as part of his estate. The professor researched his grandfather's activities and published in 2020 a book examining the ethical and medical issues faced by doctors involved in the development of the atomic bombs. He also served as a visiting professor at Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University in Nagasaki from October to December 2022. 'Sound may reach' When Nolan Jr. visited Japan to research the history of hidden Christians and the atomic bombings in May 2023, he met with Moriuchi for an interview. The professor is said to have asked Moriuchi if there is anything he can do for the people of Urakami. Having heard from his father about the solemn sound of the cathedral's two bells, Moriuchi suggested Nolan to the donation of a bell saying, 'the sound of the bell may reach all those who perished in Urakami because of the atomic bombing.'It is estimated that about 8,500 of 12,000 total parishioners were killed in the atomic bombing in the area around the cathedral. Nolan agreed with Moriuchi's proposal and launched a project in the United States to raise funds. He collected donations from more than 500 Catholics and others through lecture activities in the United States. 7,000 visitors The new bell was flown to Nagasaki in May. Nearly 7,000 people from Japan and abroad visited to see the bell on a display over a nine-day period in an exhibition room near the cathedral. '[The bell] will bear much fruit, including in fostering peace, hope and greater solidarity between Japanese and American Catholics,' Nolan Jr. said at the ceremony. 'On behalf of all of those who have given to the project, we thank you for the great honor it has been to be a part of restoring this bell to you, to your community and to your beautiful cathedral.'
