Nagasaki marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic bombing with a rain-soaked remembrance and a minute of silence at 11:02 a.m. Survivors—now averaging over 86 years of age—warned their voices are fading and pressed Tokyo to back the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

A City Pauses at 11:02 a.m.

The ceremony honored those lost when the bomb exploded on Aug. 9, 1945, killing an estimated 74,000 people in Nagasaki. Just three days earlier, Hiroshima was devastated, with roughly 140,000 dead. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II.

Mayor’s Message: From Principles to Action

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki urged Japan to uphold its Three Non-Nuclear Principles—no possession, no production, no introduction—and to sign and ratify the TPNW “at the earliest possible juncture.” He also called for leadership toward a Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, arguing procrastination can no longer be tolerated.

Fewer Witnesses, Greater Urgency

The official victims’ roll now lists 201,942 names. Nationwide, the number of hibakusha has fallen below 100,000, making it harder to preserve first-hand testimony and intensifying calls to lock in progress on disarmament.

Tokyo’s Stance: NPT Over TPNW

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to lead global efforts toward a world free of nuclear weapons, citing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the “foundation.” He did not mention the TPNW, which Japan has declined to join while relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

A Global Audience Returns

Representatives from 95 countries and regions attended, including Russia and Israel, both present after prior exclusions. Interest in Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s peace museums has surged in recent years.

Arms Control in Retreat

Despite rhetoric about a nuclear-free world, disarmament is stalling. U.S.–Russia pacts have frayed, China is expanding its arsenal, and North Korea continues to build its “treasured sword.” Nine countries possess nuclear weapons today; global stockpiles have fallen from ~70,000 at the Cold War peak to about 12,240—but are expected to grow over the next decade.