Nagasaki commemorated the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing that occurred at the end of World War II in a ceremony overshadowed by the absence of Western envoys due to the city's decision not to invite Israel. The ceremony, held at Nagasaki Peace Park, saw Mayor Shiro Suzuki calling for nuclear weapon states and their allies to work towards the abolition of nuclear weapons, emphasizing the increasing threat they pose to humanity.
The atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, claimed the lives of 70,000 people, following the bombing of Hiroshima three days earlier that resulted in 140,000 casualties. Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, marked the end of World War II and its aggressive actions across Asia.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan's commitment to a nuclear-free world during the ceremony, although critics, including atomic bomb survivors, question this pledge as Japan relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella while strengthening its military capabilities.
Participants observed a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the exact time the plutonium bomb detonated over Nagasaki, as a peace bell tolled. Over 2,000 individuals, representing 100 countries, attended the ceremony, with notable absences of ambassadors from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and the European Union due to Nagasaki's exclusion of Israel from the invitation list.
U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel attended a separate ceremony in Tokyo alongside Israeli and British counterparts to honor the victims of the Nagasaki bombing. Mayor Suzuki defended his decision not to invite Israel, citing concerns about potential disruptions to the ceremony, while Ambassador Emanuel criticized the move as political rather than security-related.
The anniversary coincides with the reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to provide extended deterrence to Japan under its nuclear umbrella, signaling a shift in Japan's stance on openly discussing its protection following the recent tensions in the region.
