The mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, delivered a heartfelt plea for peace during a solemn ceremony on the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bomb attack on the city. The event, which took place on August 9th, serves as a chilling reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare, which resulted in an estimated 74,000 deaths and left lasting scars on the survivors.
"There is a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation in the world today," Suzuki stated in his Peace Declaration at the ceremony, indicating that the current global conflicts could lead to the risk of nuclear escalation. He implored participants to reflect on the events of August 9, 1945, saying, "If we continue on this trajectory, we will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war."
The Nagasaki bombing, which occurred just days after the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945, was one of the significant events that marked the end of World War II. The catastrophic effects of the bomb were felt for generations, with survivors suffering from severe health issues linked to radiation exposure.
The commemoration began with a moment of silence, and for the first time since the bombing, the twin bells of Nagasaki's cathedral rang in a unified call for world peace. Participants, including representatives from various generations and survivors, performed a symbolic act of offering water, reminiscent of the pleas made by victims suffering from burns in the aftermath of the bombing.
Nagasaki resident and bomb survivor Hiroshi Nishioka, aged 93, shared harrowing memories of the traumatic experiences he endured as a young child during the bombing. "Even the lucky ones gradually began to bleed from their gums and lose their hair," he recounted, underscoring the invisible terror that lingered long after the war ended.
As conflicts intensify globally, particularly in relation to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict, the importance of remembrance and dialogue for peace remains critical. Following previous controversies regarding the attendance of various nations at the commemoration, this year, Japan's mayor extended invitations to Israel, Russia, and Belarus, seeking to foster a more inclusive dialogue for peace.
In light of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into effect in 2021, which has garnered support from over 70 countries, the call for nuclear disarmament remains a contentious issue, particularly among nuclear-armed nations, including Japan, which relies on the security provided by US nuclear capabilities. The challenge of balancing national security and global peace continues to shape the discourse surrounding nuclear weapons in today’s world.
