Nagasaki 80th anniversary ceremony

Memorial marks 80 years since the atomic bombing as leaders and survivors push for a world without nuclear weapons and greater international dialogue.

Nagasaki 80th anniversary ceremony highlights peace push amid Gaza tensions

Nagasaki marked the 80th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing with representatives from about 90 countries gathered at Peace Park. The ceremony featured remarks from Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, followed by the moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the precise time of the blast. Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen attended this year, a year after he was snubbed from last year’s ceremony over the Gaza war. Survivors and their families urged action toward a global ban on nuclear weapons, while younger people were invited to keep the memories alive. China did not attend; Russia was present, and Japan reiterated its goal of a nuclear‑free world through diplomacy ahead of the 2026 Non‑Proliferation Treaty review conference.

The ceremony shows how memory of a catastrophe continues to shape diplomacy. The call for a world without nuclear weapons sits alongside real world concerns about deterrence and national security. The Israeli envoy's participation signals that memorial spaces can serve as quiet meeting places even when broader ties are strained.

The event also reveals how younger generations are stepping in, with survivors pushing for archival work and education to sustain momentum. Yet politics can overshadow memory if debates about Gaza and Israel spill into the memorial space. The risk is that sentiment becomes headlines rather than policy, even as the drive for disarmament remains tangible.

Highlights

Memory is a call to action, guiding future steps toward disarmament.