During a memorial service held at the Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki declared that “humanity and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.” His remarks came on August 9, 2026, as Japan marked the anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city by the United States.
The commemorative event was attended by Japan’s ultraconservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, alongside other attendees honoring the victims of the attack.
Why It Matters
The atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, occurred three days after the devastation of Hiroshima, together marking the only instances of nuclear weapons being used in warfare. The twin bombings resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and led directly to the end of World War II. Today, the annual memorial ceremonies in both cities serve as prominent international forums for promoting global nuclear disarmament and peace advocacy.
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