Nagasaki marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor says nuclear deterrence only increases risk

On Sunday, Nagasaki commemorated the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, which claimed 70,000 lives by the end of 1945. Mayor Shiro Suzuki denounced nuclear weapons as "absolute evil" and criticized the growing support for nuclear deterrence, urging the Japanese government to uphold its three postwar non-nuclear principles.

The anniversary coincided with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government revising Japan's defense policy to strengthen its offensive capabilities, raising speculation about the potential introduction of nuclear weapons, which would violate the third non-nuclear principle. Takaichi, who supports the first two principles of not possessing or developing nuclear weapons, remained ambiguous about the third principle and Japan's stance on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which the country has refused to sign.

Survivors, or hibakusha, have expressed frustration and called the government's support for nuclear deterrence insincere, with concerns about dwindling survivor numbers and fading memories of the attacks.