Nagasaki Marks 80 Years Since Atomic Bombing, Remembering Victims and Urging Peace

On August 9, 2025, the city of Nagasaki, Japan, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing during World War II. The annual memorial ceremony took place at Peace Park, where people gathered to remember the victims.

Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki addressed the gathering, emphasizing the looming threat of crises that could endanger humanity, such as nuclear war. The city was struck by an atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. The mayor urged the world to immediately cease armed conflicts.

The bombing of Nagasaki resulted in the deaths of approximately 74,000 people, in addition to the 140,000 killed in Hiroshima. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, marking the end of World War II. While historians debate the impact of the bombings on saving lives by ending the conflict, the survivors endured decades of physical and psychological trauma, along with the stigma associated with being a hibakusha.

Hiroshi Nishioka, a 93-year-old survivor who was close to the explosion, shared his memories of the horror he witnessed as a teenager. He recalled the suffering of those who were not severely injured, who gradually began to bleed and lose their hair before dying.

A Nagasaki resident, Atsuko Higuchi, expressed her happiness that the city's victims would be remembered. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging these events as real occurrences.

On the day of the anniversary, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Nagasaki held a mass where the two bells rang together for the first time since 1945. The restoration of the bells was seen as a symbol of reconciliation. The cathedral, rebuilt after being nearly destroyed in the bombing, had only one bell recovered from the rubble. A new bell was constructed with funds from US churchgoers and restored to the tower.

The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, viewed the chimes as a message to the world, emphasizing the importance of recognizing past wounds and working together for peace. Nearly 100 countries were scheduled to participate in the commemorations.

The bell project was spearheaded by an American university professor whose grandfather was involved in the Manhattan Project. Inspired by a Japanese Christian's wish to hear the cathedral's bells ring together, the professor raised funds from American Catholics to finance the new bell. The reactions to the unveiling of the new bell in Nagasaki were emotional. The project also highlighted the history of Nagasaki's Christians, who maintained their faith clandestinely for over 250 years after being persecuted. American Catholics expressed compassion and sadness upon learning about the perseverance of Nagasaki's Christians after the atomic bomb.