Nagasaki mayor warns of nuclear war 80 years after atom bomb attack

Nagasaki, Japan — August 9, 2025

On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the city’s mayor, Shiro Suzuki, delivered a grave warning about the growing risk of nuclear war and urged global leaders to adhere to the principles of the U.N. Charter while taking decisive steps toward disarmament.

Thousands gathered at Peace Park at exactly 11:02 a.m.—the moment the U.S. "Fat Man" plutonium bomb detonated in 1945—to observe a moment of silence marking the devastating event that claimed approximately 27,000 lives instantly and raised the death toll to nearly 70,000 by year’s end .

Mayor Suzuki emphasized the “imminent existential crisis” facing humanity, underscoring both the enduring power of survivors’ testimonies and the necessity for solidarity in pursuing a nuclear-free world .

Representatives from as many as 95 countries took part in the solemn ceremony—including officials from the U.S. and Russia—highlighting international engagement despite persistent tensions . The commemorative event featured poignant rituals: the twin bells of Urakami Cathedral rang together for the first time in eight decades, doves were released, and survivors shared deeply moving accounts of the bombing’s aftermath .

Survivors—known as hibakusha—are rapidly aging; many worry their stories will vanish unless preserved. In response, a youth peace forum was held to engage younger generations in preserving and carrying forward their legacy .

Despite Japan’s continued reliance on the U.S. nuclear deterrent preventing it from joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, both Mayor Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to achieving a world without nuclear arms