August 9, 2026 | 12:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Sunday, the Japanese city of Nagasaki marks the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing by the United States during World War II, amidst a fierce debate over nuclear deterrence that underscores the importance of calls to reject nuclear weapons.
During the ceremony commemorating the attack—which took place on August 9, 1945—Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki is set to urge world leaders to strive for nuclear disarmament, as reported by Kyodo and cited by Antara.
He emphasizes that humanity cannot coexist with nuclear weapons.
Nagasaki will observe a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m. local time, coinciding with the moment the "Fat Man" atomic bomb, dropped by a US bomber, detonated over the city.
The attack occurred three days after the first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, making Nagasaki the second and final city to suffer a nuclear attack.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver remarks at the memorial ceremony, and a statement from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also be read.
At the Hiroshima memorial ceremony last Thursday, August 6, 2026, PM Takaichi reaffirmed her government's commitment to upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles"—pledging not to produce, possess, or allow nuclear weapons—despite emerging calls for Japan to reconsider this stance.
Meanwhile, last May, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference—held every five years—failed to reach a consensus for the third time, despite a full month of meetings in New York.
The nuclear attack on Nagasaki is estimated to have killed 74,000 people by the end of 1945 and caused lasting health effects for many other survivors.
Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15, 1945, bringing World War II to an end. Atomic bomb survivors—or hibakusha—and their supporters are currently racing against time to pass on the memory of the two atomic bombings, given that the average age of government-recognized survivors has now reached 86.
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