Japan observed the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Friday. The city’s mayor, Shiro Suzuki, took this opportunity to advocate for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
During the annual ceremony, Suzuki delivered a powerful peace declaration. At 11:02 a.m. local time, participants held a moment of silence. This was the exact time in 1945 when a U.S. B-29 bomber dropped the plutonium-core atomic bomb known as Fat Man. By the end of that year, the blast had killed approximately 74,000 people in Nagasaki.
The attack on Nagasaki remains the most recent instance of an atomic bomb being used in warfare. In his speech, Mayor Suzuki emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. He urged leaders to seek peaceful solutions rather than resorting to arms expansion or threats of force.
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Suzuki also called on the Japanese government to sign and ratify a United Nations treaty that bans nuclear weapons. He stressed that Japan should take a leading role in fostering discussions to ease tensions and promote disarmament in Northeast Asia.
The Nagasaki Peace Park hosted the ceremony, attended by about 2,300 people. This group included representatives from approximately 100 countries, according to city officials.
The bombing of Nagasaki came just three days after Hiroshima was hit by another atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Both bombings were intended to hasten the end of World War II and compel Japan to surrender.
Japan’s actions during World War II included the invasion and occupation of many parts of Asia. These actions caused immense suffering and significant casualties among millions of innocent victims.
