Latest news with #AtsukoHiguchi
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Nagasaki commemorates 80th anniversary of atomic bomb drop
A minute of silence was observed today in Nagasaki, precisely at the time of the atomic bomb explosion which was dropped by an American bomber on the Japanese city eighty years ago, while the restored bell tower of the city's church rang — for the first time since then. On 9 August 1945, at 11:02, just three days after Hiroshima, Nagasaki was struck by the horror of a nuclear attack. Some 74,000 people lost their lives in the city, a major port in the south-western part of the archipelago, adding to the 140,000 deaths of Hiroshima. 'Eighty years have passed, and who would have imagined the world would come to this? Stop armed conflicts immediately!' urged Shiro Suzuki, mayor of the martyred city, during the ceremony attended by representatives from over a hundred nations. 'Conflicts are escalating across various regions due to the vicious cycle of strife and division. A crisis capable of threatening the very survival of humanity itself — such as nuclear war — looms over all who inhabit this planet,' he added, shortly after the heavy rain which had fallen throughout the morning eased, just before the minute's silence was observed. International participation — a record turnout — was notably marked by the presence of Russia, which had not attended the anniversary since its military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Israel, whose ambassador was excluded last year in protest at the conflict in Gaza — prompting a boycott by other G7 ambassadors — was present this time. That explosion feels as though it happened 'in ancient times, but for those who lived through it, it is as fresh as yesterday. We must keep alive the memory of these real events,' said Atsuko Higuchi, a 50-year-old Nagasaki resident, at the Peace Park. A symbol of this memorial is the cathedral bell, destroyed by the atomic bomb: it was restored in the spring by American Christians and placed beside the existing bell before ringing once more on the anniversary, for the first time in eighty years. The striking red-brick Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception stands atop a hill. Rebuilt in 1959, the building was almost obliterated when the bomb exploded just a few hundred metres away. Only one of the two bells was recovered from the ruins. For the church's priest, Kenichi Yamamura, the restoration 'demonstrates the grandeur of the human spirit' and is 'proof that those belonging to one side of a conflict that struck another may one day seek to make amends.' The aim is not 'to forget the wounds of the past, but to acknowledge them and work to heal, to rebuild, and thereby labour together for peace,' Mr Yamamura told the French Press Agency. The priest wished to send a message to a world shaken by multiple armed conflicts and caught up in a frantic arms race. 'We must not respond to violence with violence, but rather show through the way we live and pray just how irrational it is to take another's life,' he added. An American university professor, whose grandfather had been involved in the Manhattan Project — the development of the first nuclear weapons used in the Second World War — led the restoration project for the bell. James Nolan, a sociology professor in Massachusetts, raised approximately €107,200 from American Catholics for the endeavour. At the unveiling of the restored bell in spring, 'there were people who literally wept,' recalled Mr Nolan. Many American Catholics he met were unaware of the painful history of Nagasaki's Christians. Converted to Christianity in the 16th century by European missionaries, they endured persecution by the Japanese shoguns; practising and spreading their faith in secret for over 250 years. This story was recounted in the novel Silence by Japanese Catholic author Shūsaku Endō — adapted for the big screen by Martin Scorsese in 2016. 'We are talking about centuries of martyrdom, torture, illegality, mockery and persecution because of their faith,' Mr Nolan emphasised, referring to the Japanese Catholics. American Catholics were inspired by 'their willingness to forgive and rebuild, and their devotion to prayer,' he added. The atomic bombings dealt the final blow to the Japanese empire, which surrendered on 15 August 1945, bringing the Second World War to a close. Yet historians continue to debate whether and to what extent these bombings hastened the end of the war and saved lives, given the suffering endured by the hibakusha — the survivors — who, among other hardships, faced lifelong discrimination and were at a very high risk of developing certain types of cancer.
RTHK
5 days ago
- General
- RTHK
Nagasaki bombing resounds as twin bells toll
Nagasaki bombing resounds as twin bells toll On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. Photo: Reuters Twin cathedral bells rang in unison on Saturday in Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the Japanese city 80 years ago. On August 9, 1945, at 11.02am, three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours on Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to "stop armed conflicts immediately". "Eighty years have passed, and who could have imagined that the world would become like this?," he said. "A crisis that could threaten the survival of humanity, such as a nuclear war, is looming over each and every one of us living on this planet." About 74,000 people were killed in the southwestern port city, on top of the 140,000 killed in Hiroshima. Days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, marking the end of World War II. Nagasaki resident Atsuko Higuchi, 50, said that "instead of thinking that these events belong to the past, we must remember that these are real events that took place. "In the end... when war breaks out, those who suffer the most are the little children or the mothers raising them." On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. The imposing red-brick cathedral, with its twin bell towers atop a hill, was rebuilt in 1959 after it was almost completely destroyed in the explosion just a few hundred meters away. Only one of its two bells was recovered from the rubble, leaving the northern tower silent. With funds from US churchgoers, a new bell was constructed and restored to the tower, and chimed on Saturday at the exact moment the bomb was dropped. The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, said the bell's restoration "shows the greatness of humanity". "It's not about forgetting the wounds of the past but recognising them and taking action to repair and rebuild, and in doing so, working together for peace," Yamamura said. (AFP)
RTHK
5 days ago
- General
- RTHK
Nagasaki bombing resounds as twin bells toll
Nagasaki bombing resounds as twin bells toll On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. Photo: Reuters Twin cathedral bells rang in unison on Saturday in Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the Japanese city 80 years ago. On August 9, 1945, at 11.02am, three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours on Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to "stop armed conflicts immediately". "Eighty years have passed, and who could have imagined that the world would become like this?," he said. "A crisis that could threaten the survival of humanity, such as a nuclear war, is looming over each and every one of us living on this planet." About 74,000 people were killed in the southwestern port city, on top of the 140,000 killed in Hiroshima. Days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, marking the end of World War II. Nagasaki resident Atsuko Higuchi, 50, said that "instead of thinking that these events belong to the past, we must remember that these are real events that took place. "In the end... when war breaks out, those who suffer the most are the little children or the mothers raising them." On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. The imposing red-brick cathedral, with its twin bell towers atop a hill, was rebuilt in 1959 after it was almost completely destroyed in the explosion just a few hundred meters away. Only one of its two bells was recovered from the rubble, leaving the northern tower silent. With funds from US churchgoers, a new bell was constructed and restored to the tower, and chimed on Saturday at the exact moment the bomb was dropped. The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, said the bell's restoration "shows the greatness of humanity". "It's not about forgetting the wounds of the past but recognising them and taking action to repair and rebuild, and in doing so, working together for peace," Yamamura said. (AFP)
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Restored Nagasaki bell rings in 80 years since A-bomb
NAGASAKI, JAPAN: Twin cathedral bells rang in unison Saturday in Japan's Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the city 80 years ago, commemorating the moment the atrocity took place. On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 am, three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to 'stop armed conflicts immediately'. 'Eighty years have passed, and who could have imagined that the world would become like this? 'A crisis that could threaten the survival of humanity, such as a nuclear war, is looming over each and every one of us living on this planet.' About 74,000 people were killed in the southwestern port city, on top of the 140,000 killed in Hiroshima. Days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, marking the end of World War II. Historians have debated whether the bombings ultimately saved lives by bringing an end to the conflict and averting a ground invasion. But those calculations meant little to survivors, many of whom battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that often came with being a hibakusha. Nagasaki resident Atsuko Higuchi told AFP it 'made her happy' that everyone would remember the city's victims. 'Instead of thinking that these events belong to the past, we must remember that these are real events that took place,' the 50-year-old said. 'In the end... when war breaks out, those who suffer the most are the little children or the mothers raising them.' On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. The imposing red-brick cathedral, with its twin bell towers atop a hill, was rebuilt in 1959 after it was almost completely destroyed in the monstrous explosion just a few hundred meters away. Only one of its two bells was recovered from the rubble, leaving the northern tower silent. With funds from US churchgoers, a new bell was constructed and restored to the tower, and chimed Saturday at the exact moment the bomb was dropped. 'Working together for peace' The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, said the bell's restoration 'shows the greatness of humanity'. 'It's not about forgetting the wounds of the past but recognising them and taking action to repair and rebuild, and in doing so, working together for peace,' Yamamura told AFP. He also sees the chimes as a message to the world, shaken by multiple conflicts and caught in a frantic new arms race. 'We should not respond to violence with violence, but rather demonstrate through our way of living, praying, how senseless it is to take another's life,' he said. Nearly 100 countries were set to participate in this year's commemorations, including Russia, which has not been invited since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Israel, whose ambassador was not invited last year over the war in Gaza, was in attendance. This year, 'we wanted participants to come and witness directly the reality of the catastrophe that a nuclear weapon can cause', a Nagasaki official said last week. Martyrdom, torture An American university professor, whose grandfather participated in the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons, spearheaded the bell project. During his research in Nagasaki, a Japanese Christian told him he would like to hear the two bells of the cathedral ring together in his lifetime. Inspired by the idea, James Nolan, a sociology professor at Williams College in Massachusetts, embarked on a year-long series of lectures about the atomic bomb across the United States, primarily in churches. He managed to raise $125,000 from American Catholics to fund the new bell. When it was unveiled in Nagasaki in the spring, 'the reactions were magnificent. There were people literally in tears', said Nolan. Many American Catholics he met were also unaware of the painful history of Nagasaki's Christians, who, converted in the 16th century by the first European missionaries and then persecuted by Japanese shoguns, kept their faith alive clandestinely for over 250 years. This story was told in the novel 'Silence' by Shusaku Endo, and adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese in 2016. He explains that American Catholics also showed 'compassion and sadness' upon hearing about the perseverance of Nagasaki's Christians after the atomic bomb, which killed 8,500 of the parish's 12,000 faithful. They were inspired by the 'willingness to forgive and rebuild'. - AFP
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Restored Nagasaki Bell Rings In 80 Years Since A-bomb
Twin cathedral bells rang in unison Saturday in Japan's Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the city 80 years ago, commemorating the moment the atrocity took place. On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 am, three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to "stop armed conflicts immediately". "Eighty years have passed, and who could have imagined that the world would become like this? "A crisis that could threaten the survival of humanity, such as a nuclear war, is looming over each and every one of us living on this planet." About 74,000 people were killed in the southwestern port city, on top of the 140,000 killed in Hiroshima. Days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, marking the end of World War II. Historians have debated whether the bombings ultimately saved lives by bringing an end to the conflict and averting a ground invasion. But those calculations meant little to survivors, many of whom battled decades of physical and psychological trauma, as well as the stigma that often came with being a hibakusha. Nagasaki resident Atsuko Higuchi told AFP it "made her happy" that everyone would remember the city's victims. "Instead of thinking that these events belong to the past, we must remember that these are real events that took place," the 50-year-old said. "In the end... when war breaks out, those who suffer the most are the little children or the mothers raising them." On Saturday, the two bells of Nagasaki's Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945. The imposing red-brick cathedral, with its twin bell towers atop a hill, was rebuilt in 1959 after it was almost completely destroyed in the monstrous explosion just a few hundred meters away. Only one of its two bells was recovered from the rubble, leaving the northern tower silent. With funds from US churchgoers, a new bell was constructed and restored to the tower, and chimed Saturday at the exact moment the bomb was dropped. The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, said the bell's restoration "shows the greatness of humanity". "It's not about forgetting the wounds of the past but recognising them and taking action to repair and rebuild, and in doing so, working together for peace," Yamamura told AFP. He also sees the chimes as a message to the world, shaken by multiple conflicts and caught in a frantic new arms race. "We should not respond to violence with violence, but rather demonstrate through our way of living, praying, how senseless it is to take another's life," he said. Nearly 100 countries were set to participate in this year's commemorations, including Russia, which has not been invited since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Israel, whose ambassador was not invited last year over the war in Gaza, was in attendance. This year, "we wanted participants to come and witness directly the reality of the catastrophe that a nuclear weapon can cause", a Nagasaki official said last week. An American university professor, whose grandfather participated in the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons, spearheaded the bell project. During his research in Nagasaki, a Japanese Christian told him he would like to hear the two bells of the cathedral ring together in his lifetime. Inspired by the idea, James Nolan, a sociology professor at Williams College in Massachusetts, embarked on a year-long series of lectures about the atomic bomb across the United States, primarily in churches. He managed to raise $125,000 from American Catholics to fund the new bell. When it was unveiled in Nagasaki in the spring, "the reactions were magnificent. There were people literally in tears", said Nolan. Many American Catholics he met were also unaware of the painful history of Nagasaki's Christians, who, converted in the 16th century by the first European missionaries and then persecuted by Japanese shoguns, kept their faith alive clandestinely for over 250 years. This story was told in the novel "Silence" by Shusaku Endo, and adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese in 2016. He explains that American Catholics also showed "compassion and sadness" upon hearing about the perseverance of Nagasaki's Christians after the atomic bomb, which killed 8,500 of the parish's 12,000 faithful. They were inspired by the "willingness to forgive and rebuild".
