Nagasaki Commemorates 80 Years Since Atomic Bombing Urges Global Nuclear Disarmament

Nagasaki Japan — Thousands gathered on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, observing a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the exact time the U.S. dropped the bomb in 1945. The ceremony, held at Nagasaki Peace Park, honored the estimated 74,000 people who died instantly or from radiation-related illnesses in the months that followed.

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki addressed the crowd, warning that the threat of nuclear weapons remains a pressing global issue. He urged world leaders to commit to concrete actions toward nuclear disarmament, stressing that the lessons from Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never fade. Suzuki emphasized that recent geopolitical tensions have increased the risk of nuclear escalation, making peace diplomacy more urgent than ever.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a representative from the United Nations, and foreign delegates also attended the memorial. Survivors, known as hibakusha, shared their testimonies, describing the devastation, human suffering, and lifelong health impacts caused by the bombing.

The Nagasaki bombing came just three days after Hiroshima was struck, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. While both cities have since been rebuilt, their annual memorials serve as a reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear warfare.

As church bells rang and doves were released, the message from Nagasaki was clear: the world must act decisively to eliminate nuclear arms and prevent future generations from facing the same fate.