Japan joined in commemorating the 81st anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing of Nagasaki during World War II, highlighting its commitment to non-involvement with nuclear weapons.
Foreign news agencies reported that on Sunday, 9 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the Japanese held an annual memorial ceremony marking 81 years since the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki near the end of World War II. The city's mayor stated that nuclear weapons cannot coexist with humanity.
Residents of Nagasaki observed a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped on 9 Aug 1945 CE. It is estimated that more than 73,000 people died by the end of that year, while many survivors continue to suffer from cancer and other illnesses related to radiation exposure.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, along with representatives from 98 countries, attended the ceremony.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki unveiled an updated list of atomic bombing victims at the memorial site. The list records a total of 204,708 victims, including 2,773 people who died or were confirmed deceased within the past 12 months.
In his statement, Mayor Suzuki referenced the experience of the late Katsuji Yoshida, a bombing survivor who had tirelessly promoted peace activities for many years despite suffering facial burns.
The mayor said, “Peace begins when we empathize with the pain of others.” This was a phrase Yoshida often shared when recounting his survival story. Empathy for others’ perspectives and suffering, along with efforts to understand one another, are vital steps in avoiding confrontation and conflict.
Then, Motomura Chiyoko, who was exposed to radiation and blast effects at the age of six, represented the survivors in delivering the “Peace Pledge.”
She said, “I believe peace means protecting life, and life must be protected above all else. I will continue to raise my voice for peace for the rest of my life and pray that war never occurs again. This is my pledge to every soul resting on this hill who was lost in an instant due to the atomic bomb.”
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also delivered a speech, stating, “Japan strictly adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, with the vow to make Nagasaki the last place to suffer from an atomic bomb, and as the only country affected by atomic bombings during war.”
“We will make concrete and practical efforts toward achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.”
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Source:nhk