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// DOSSIER — nagasaki-marks-81st-a-bomb-anniversary-nuclear-war
Nagasaki Marks 81st A-Bomb Anniversary Amid Rising Nuclear War Risks
REL_TIME: 10 Aug 2026 05:42Z · LANG: EN
On August 9, 2026, Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing amid heightened global tensions from conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki delivered a sharp rebuke of nuclear deterrence, labeling nuclear weapons an 'absolute evil' and urging the Japanese government to uphold its pacifist Constitution and three non-nuclear principles. The commemoration highlighted a growing rift between local anti-nuclear advocates and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration, which is currently revising Japan's defense policy to bolster offensive military capabilities and has remained ambiguous about long-term commitment to the country's non-nuclear principles.
// Background
On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a plutonium bomb codenamed 'Fat Man' on Nagasaki, killing approximately 74,000 people by the end of that year. This attack occurred three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and led to Japan's unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, ending World War II. Today, the remaining survivors, known as hibakusha, average over 86 years of age, making the preservation of their firsthand accounts an urgent priority.
// Key Developments
- Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki denounced nuclear deterrence as 'extremely dangerous and fragile' during the annual Peace Declaration.
- The 81st anniversary ceremony was attended by approximately 3,700 people, including representatives from 98 countries and regions, though U.S. Ambassador George Glass was absent.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced criticism and brief heckling for her ambiguous stance on Japan's three non-nuclear principles and her refusal to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
- The UN Secretary-General warned of an increasing risk of nuclear conflict due to geopolitical saber-rattling and the failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in May 2026.
- The number of surviving atomic bomb victims (hibakusha) has dwindled to 91,105, with their average age now exceeding 86 years.
// Timeline
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The United States drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
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The U.S. drops the 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb on Nagasaki, instantly killing tens of thousands.
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Japan surrenders, marking the end of World War II.
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The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in New York ends without reaching a consensus for the third consecutive time.
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PM Takaichi attends the Hiroshima memorial and avoids making a clear pledge to maintain Japan's non-nuclear principles.
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Nagasaki marks the 81st anniversary of the bombing with a memorial ceremony at Peace Park.
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The review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is scheduled to convene.
// Perspectives
[Shiro Suzuki (Mayor of Nagasaki)]
Strongly opposes nuclear deterrence, demands the Japanese government sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and urges strict adherence to Japan's pacifist Constitution.
[Sanae Takaichi (Prime Minister of Japan)]
Advocates for a 'realistic and practical' approach to disarmament through the NPT while maintaining Japan's defense under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and expanding offensive military capabilities.
[Hibakusha (Atomic Bomb Survivors)]
Express deep frustration and protest against the government's reliance on nuclear deterrence, fearing their tragic experiences will be forgotten as their population ages.
[Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary-General)]
Warns that nuclear weapons only fuel global uncertainty and calls the rising risk of nuclear escalation unacceptable.
// Quotes
“Nuclear weapons are not a 'necessary evil' but an 'absolute evil,' and can never coexist with humanity.”
“Year by year, the risk of miscalculation, escalation, and conflict keeps going up.”
“The government is upholding the policy.”
