Nagasaki, 9 August (H.S.): Nagasaki marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing on Saturday with a solemn ceremony, as Mayor Shiro Suzuki urged an immediate end to global conflicts to prevent the threat of nuclear war.

The August 9, 1945 attack killed an estimated 74,000 people and left many survivors suffering from radiation-related illnesses. At the commemoration, cathedral bells rang together for the first time since the bombing, and participants offered water in memory of victims who had desperately sought it after the blast.

Survivors shared harrowing memories, describing the invisible terror of radiation that continued to claim lives long after the war.

Suzuki’s remarks drew parallels between the past and present, highlighting current conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and fighting between Israel and Hamas. For the first time in years, Israel, Russia, and Belarus were invited to the event.

The ceremony also underscored global efforts to ban nuclear weapons under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which took effect in 2021. While over 70 countries have ratified it, nuclear powers and Japan oppose the treaty, citing security concerns.

The anniversary served as both a remembrance of one of history’s darkest days and a warning against repeating it.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar