Nagasaki mayor declares humanity and nuclear weapons cannot coexist on bombing anniversary

Nagasaki’s mayor, Tomihisa Taue, said on Thursday that “humanity and nuclear weapons can’t coexist” as the city marked the anniversary of the United States’ atomic bombing on August 9, 1945. The statement was delivered during the annual peace ceremony that commemorates the day the bomb, nicknamed “Fat Man,” killed an estimated 70,000 people and left lasting scars on the city’s survivors.

The ceremony, attended by local officials, surviving hibakusha, and representatives from the Japanese and U.S. governments, featured a moment of silence, the release of paper lanterns and a speech urging renewed efforts toward nuclear disarmament. Organizers highlighted the need to remember the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons while promoting dialogue on non‑proliferation, underscoring the event’s role in reinforcing Japan’s commitment to a world free of nuclear arms.