Memorializing the Atomic Bomb Victims of Nagasaki
Nagasaki, the Japanese city that was devastated by an atomic bomb in 1945, recently marked the 80th anniversary of the tragic event. On this solemn occasion, Mayor Shiro Suzuki issued a peace declaration, emphasising the growing danger of nuclear war and advocating for nuclear weapons abolition.
Approximately 70,000 people were killed instantly in Nagasaki by the atomic bomb, with another 75,000 injured. This horrific event, along with the bombing of Hiroshima three days prior, remains etched in history as the only instances of cities being devastated by atomic bombs.
Mayor Suzuki, in his declaration, expressed his deep concern about the "imminent existential crisis" humanity faces amid global threats of nuclear war and ongoing geopolitical confrontations. He urged the world to learn from history and ensure that Nagasaki remains the last city to suffer a nuclear inferno.
Nagasaki and its mayor, Shiro Suzuki, are strongly in favour of nuclear weapons abolition and support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. At the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace held in Nagasaki in August 2025, the "Nagasaki Appeal" declaration was adopted, which urges all countries to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
However, Japan's national government, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, has not signed or participated in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The government cites its reliance on the U.S. nuclear deterrent as an ally as the reason for this stance. Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated Japan's commitment to not possessing nuclear weapons but did not endorse the treaty publicly.
Despite this, the Mayors for Peace organization, with Nagasaki as a central hub, continues to build international momentum toward a nuclear-free world. The organisation aims to grow its membership and promote peace awareness worldwide.
On the anniversary day, a minute of silence was observed in Nagasaki to mark the moment when the "Fat Man" atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Hiroshima and Nagasaki have become symbols of the horrors of war and peace, serving as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons.
In conclusion, Nagasaki and its mayor, Shiro Suzuki, stand firmly against nuclear weapons and advocate for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. However, Japan's national government has yet to sign or participate in the treaty, citing its security alliance. The Mayors for Peace organization continues its efforts to build a nuclear-free world, with Nagasaki serving as a powerful symbol of peace and a reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear war.
[1] Nagasaki Appeal adopted at the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace, August 2025. [2] The Asahi Shimbun, "Nagasaki Mayor Urges World to Learn from History and Abolish Nuclear Weapons," August 9, 2025. [3] Mayors for Peace website, accessed August 10, 2025.
- The Nagasaki Appeal, adopted at the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace in August 2025, urges all countries to sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a move supported by Nagasaki and its mayor, Shiro Suzuki.
- Amidst ongoing global threats of nuclear war and political conflicts, Nagasaki's mayor, Shiro Suzuki, has expressed deep concern about the "imminent existential crisis" humanity faces, emphasizing the importance of learning from history to ensure Nagasaki remains the last city to suffer a nuclear inferno, a position echoed in the general news and war and conflicts discourse.
