Nagasaki Mayor Warns of Nuclear Threat on 80th Anniversary of Atomic Bombing
Japan’s Nagasaki City has marked a somber 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings with a powerful warning from its mayor, Shiro Suzuki, who called for an urgent global effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. The city hosted a memorial event attended by over 2,600 people from 90 countries, underscoring the international importance of the occasion. At precisely 11:02 a.m., the time of the 1945 bomb detonation, the attendees observed a moment of silence to honor the victims of the attack.
Mayors for Peace, an organization that gathers mayors and city leaders from around the world, held its 11th General Conference in Nagasaki, highlighting the city’s role in the ongoing global campaign against nuclear weapons. Suzuki, whose parents survived the attack, spoke passionately about the need to prevent future nuclear conflicts. He emphasized that the current trajectory of global conflicts posed an imminent existential threat to humanity, urging immediate action to avert a nuclear war.
During the event, Suzuki addressed the crowd, stating, ‘Conflicts around the world are intensifying in a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation. If we continue on this trajectory, we will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war. This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth.’ His remarks, translated by The Mainichi, reflected the deep concern and resolve of Nagasaki’s leaders to ensure that the city remains the last atomic bombing site.
Suzuki also highlighted the significance of the upcoming 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a critical moment that could shape the future of global nuclear policy. The NPT, which was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, is reviewed every five years by world leaders. Suzuki expressed the importance of this conference in determining the course of future nuclear agreements and the potential to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The mayor’s address was part of a broader reflection on the legacy of the atomic bombings, which occurred during World War II and led to Japan’s surrender, ending the war. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan three days apart, with the first hitting Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and the second detonating over Nagasaki on August 9. The bombings resulted in massive casualties and destruction, with Nagasaki’s ‘Fat Man’ bomb and Hiroshima’s ‘Little Boy’ causing widespread devastation. The attacks remain a pivotal moment in history, with their impact still felt today in the global call for nuclear disarmament.
Suzuki’s message was one of deep empathy and collective responsibility. He said, ‘I would like to express my deepest condolences for the lives claimed by the atomic bombings, and to all of the victims of war. In marking 80 years from the atomic bombing, Nagasaki has resolved to continue our duty to relay, both inside Japan and overseas, the memories of the bombing, which are a common heritage to all humanity and should be passed down for generations throughout the world.’ His closing declaration reinforced the city’s commitment to ensure that Nagasaki remains the last and only atomic bombing site, a powerful reminder of the need for peace and the prevention of future nuclear conflicts.