Nagasaki Honors Atomic Bomb Victims as Japan Stands Firm on National Security and Realistic Nuclear Policy
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Mayor Shiro Suzuki criticized nuclear weapons, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to a pragmatic defense policy, balancing pacifist ideals with the realities of regional threats.
Nagasaki commemorated the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Sunday, with officials and representatives from over 90 countries paying their respects at Peace Park. Mayor Shiro Suzuki used the occasion to call nuclear weapons 'absolute evil,' expressing concerns about nuclear deterrence. However, in a world facing increasing security threats from hostile regimes, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wisely reiterated Japan’s commitment to a 'realistic and pragmatic approach' to national defense. She emphasized that Japan will continue to work within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, ensuring the nation’s safety under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, a crucial deterrent in the face of growing regional instability. Takaichi did not address the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which Japan has not signed, recognizing the necessity of maintaining strong alliances and credible deterrence. The ceremony featured a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the time when the B-29 bomber dropped the 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb on August 9, 1945, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths by the end of that year, following the Hiroshima attack. While survivors, now numbering around 91,000, voiced concerns about the government’s nuclear policy, Japan’s leadership remains committed to protecting its citizens and upholding peace through strength and responsible defense measures.