Nagasaki marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor says nuclear deterrence only increases risk
Summary
Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing as Mayor Shiro Suzuki condemned nuclear deterrence as “absolute evil” and urged Japan to stick to its postwar non-nuclear principles. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the ceremony as survivors criticized her government’s support for nuclear deterrence and any weakening of the non-nuclear policy.
Key Points
- Nagasaki held a ceremony for the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing, with more than 90 countries represented at Peace Park.
- Mayor Shiro Suzuki called nuclear weapons “absolute evil” and warned that reliance on nuclear deterrence increases the risk of nuclear war.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended and reiterated a “realistic and pragmatic” approach to achieving a world without nuclear weapons, while remaining ambiguous on Japan’s three non-nuclear principles.
- Survivors and hibakusha groups voiced frustration over the government’s stance and worry that memories of the bombing are fading as the survivor population ages.
