Survivors of the Nagasaki atomic bomb pledged to make it the last place on Earth to suffer that fate on the 80th anniversary of the disaster.
At 11.02am on 9 August 1945, the United States dropped the nuclear bomb on the southern Japanese city – three days after one was dropped on Hiroshima.
Some 70,000 people died as a result of the Nagasaki bomb by the end of that year, with a further 140,000 killed in Hiroshima.
Japan surrendered on 15 August, ending the Second World War and nearly half a century of aggression in Asia.
Around 2,600 gathered in Nagasaki’s Peace Park to remember the victims on Saturday.
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Survivors were joined by Mayor Shiro Suzuki, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and representatives from 90 other countries.
A minute’s silence was observed and wreaths laid before doves were released above the park’s peace statue. Locals also decorated a monument with colourful paper cranes and placed offerings on others.
Mr Suzuki, whose parents survived the attack, told the crowd: “The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth.
“In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.”
“I simply seek a world without war,” said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the Hypocenter monument.
Another survivor Fui Takeshita said: “There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war.
“I only see a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace.”
The number of survivors has fallen to just 99, with an average age of 86.
Teruko Yokoyama, 83, is a member of an organisation that supports survivors. Her two sisters died of radiation from the bomb. She warned more needs to be done to educate new generations on the impact of the bomb.
“We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages, of the survivors and their lifetime story,” she said.
“There are younger people who are beginning to take action. So I think we don’t have to get depressed yet.”
