Nagasaki Mayor Condemns Nuclear Weapons on Anniversary

The Mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, declared nuclear weapons as the “absolute evil” on Sunday during the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the Japanese city. He criticized the growing support for nuclear deterrence and urged the Japanese government to adhere to its postwar non-nuclear principles.

The anniversary coincided with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s review of the country’s defense policy to further strengthen the military’s offensive capability. Speculation is rising about whether Takaichi might allow nuclear weapons in Japan, which would violate the third non-nuclear principle.

Suzuki emphasized that while some nations believe possessing nuclear weapons helps deter potential threats, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings show that humans can cross moral boundaries. “The theory of nuclear deterrence is extremely dangerous and fragile. Nuclear weapons are not a ‘necessary evil,’ but an ‘absolute evil,’ and cannot coexist with humanity,” Suzuki stated.

Suzuki called on leaders of nuclear-armed states and nations relying on nuclear deterrence to face the reality that increased reliance on nuclear deterrence raises the risk of nuclear war.

On August 9, 1945, the U.S. launched an attack on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 people by year’s end, three days after the Hiroshima bombing that resulted in 140,000 deaths. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II and nearly half a century of aggression in Asia.

Representatives from over 90 countries attended the Peace Park ceremony on Sunday, observing a minute of silence at 11:02 a.m., marking the time when a B-29 dropped a plutonium bomb, known as “Fat Man.” Suzuki urged the Japanese government to uphold the pacifist constitution, attend the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons review conference later this year, and adhere to its three non-nuclear principles.

Prime Minister Takaichi, who attended the ceremony, reaffirmed her commitment to a “realistic and pragmatic approach” to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. She maintained ambiguity regarding the non-nuclear principles, reiterating Japan’s current policy. Takaichi did not address the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which Tokyo has refused to sign due to reliance on U.S. nuclear protection.

Later, she told reporters that Japan’s policy is to work within the Non-Proliferation Treaty framework and the government will decide on treaty actions based on the most effective measures for national security and nuclear disarmament.

Survivors have expressed frustration and criticized the government’s support of nuclear deterrence as insincere. Concerns over possible relaxation of non-nuclear principles by Takaichi have sparked protests from survivors, known as hibakusha, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The number of survivors has dwindled to 91,105, about a quarter of the original total, with an average age over 86 years. Survivors worry that memories will fade as younger individuals were too young to clearly recall the attack.