The Japanese city of Nagasaki is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack that devastated the city, killing approximately 74,000 people. The city is holding various events to mark the occasion, including a ceremony at the Peace Park and the ringing of the restored bell at Nagasaki’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
The cathedral’s two bells will ring together for the first time in 80 years, symbolizing the city’s commitment to peace and nuclear disarmament. The restored bell was funded by Catholics in the US, and its ringing is seen as a powerful symbol of the city’s desire for peace.
Nearly 100 countries are expected to attend the commemorations in Nagasaki, including representatives from Russia and Israel. Russia has not been invited to the memorial since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while Israel’s ambassador to Japan was not invited to the memorial last year due to the country’s war on Gaza.
“We wanted participants to come and witness directly the reality of the catastrophe that a nuclear weapon can cause,” a Nagasaki official said. The ceremony is an opportunity for the international community to come together and reaffirm their commitment to nuclear disarmament.
The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, at 11:02 am local time, three days after the US dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, killing 140,000 people. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only instances of nuclear weapons being used in war, and they had a profound impact on the world.
James Nolan, a sociology professor at Williams College in Massachusetts, spearheaded the fundraising campaign for the new church bell. Nolan’s grandfather participated in the Manhattan Project, which developed the US’s first nuclear weapons. While doing research in Nagasaki, a Japanese Christian told him he would like to hear the cathedral’s two bells ring together once again. Inspired, Nolan embarked on a yearlong series of lectures about the atomic bomb across the US, ultimately raising approximately $125,000 to fund a new bell.
“The reactions were magnificent. There were people literally in tears,” Nolan said. The cathedral’s chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, said the bell’s restoration “shows the greatness of humanity.” “It’s not about forgetting the wounds of the past but recognising them and taking action to repair and rebuild, and in doing so, working together for peace,” Yamamura said.
The commemoration is an important opportunity for reflection and action, as the world continues to grapple with the threat of nuclear war. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear conflict, and the need for continued efforts towards disarmament and peace.