Key facts
- Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Sunday.
- Mayor Shiro Suzuki warned of an increased risk of nuclear war.
- Suzuki stated nuclear weapons are an 'absolute evil' and cannot coexist with humanity.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan's three nonnuclear principles.
- U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned of rising risks of miscalculation and conflict.
Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Sunday, with Mayor Shiro Suzuki issuing a stark warning about the increased risk of nuclear war. During the annual memorial ceremony, Suzuki declared that nuclear weapons are an 'absolute evil' and cannot coexist with humanity, urging nuclear powers and those relying on nuclear deterrence to prevent such a tragedy.
A moment of silence was observed at 11:02 a.m., the exact time the U.S. dropped the plutonium bomb codenamed 'Fat Man' on the city in 1945, which remains the last instance of a nuclear attack. Despite the existence of over 12,000 nuclear warheads, Suzuki expressed concern over the unpredictability of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where nuclear states are involved.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reiterated Japan's commitment to its three nonnuclear principles—not producing, possessing, or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. She emphasized Japan's mission, as the only country to have experienced nuclear devastation in war, to promote "realistic and practical" efforts toward a world free of such weapons. Takaichi also highlighted the growing importance of accurately conveying the realities of the atomic bombings globally.
Mayor Suzuki criticized the failure of the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference to adopt a final document, noting that the modernization of nuclear weapons fuels distrust and confrontation. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed these concerns, warning of escalating risks of miscalculation and conflict, and calling the situation 'unacceptable.' He stressed the interdependence of global security and how nuclear weapons increase uncertainty.
Suzuki urged the Japanese government to uphold the peace ethos of its constitution and the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. He also called on the government to attend the upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in November. The attack on Nagasaki is believed to have killed around 74,000 people by the end of 1945. Survivors, known as hibakusha, are racing against time to pass on their memories, with the average age of recognized survivors now exceeding 86.