• Nagasaki commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, marking a moment of reflection and peace.
• The twin bells of Urakami Cathedral rang together for the first time in 80 years, symbolizing hope for peace.
• Survivors express concerns over the rising threat of nuclear weapons and call for younger generations to advocate for disarmament.
• Notable international presence included representatives from 95 countries at the memorial event.
• Mayor Shiro Suzuki emphasized a united effort towards global nuclear abolition during the ceremony.

Nagasaki has marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic attack that devastated the city on August 9, 1945, with a solemn ceremony held at Nagasaki Peace Park. The event, attended by around 2,600 people including officials from more than 90 countries, included a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," exploded. Mayor Shiro Suzuki remarked that "the existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth," calling for global collaboration towards nuclear disarmament, according to HuffPost and Al Jazeera.

This year, Nagasaki's twin cathedral bells rang together for the first time since the bombing, marking a significant moment in the city’s history and symbolizing hope for peace. One of the bells had been missing since the bombing but was restored through fundraising efforts led by James Nolan, a professor whose grandfather worked on the Manhattan Project. This heartfelt restoration was celebrated during the ceremony, with attendees reacting emotionally to the unity represented by the chiming bells, as noted by Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

Survivors of the bombing, now called hibakusha, shared their stories during the commemoration, with many expressing a sense of urgency regarding the current global nuclear threat. As the number of surviving hibakusha dwindles, they pass their legacy and experiences to younger generations, hoping to foster a world free of nuclear weapons. "Never use nuclear weapons again, or we’re finished," urged 93-year-old survivor Hiroshi Nishioka, highlighting the haunting aftereffects of the bombing which continues to affect those who lived through it, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

The memorial addressed the conflicting tensions in today's world, with Nagasaki's mayor reiterating that "we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons" as the city seeks to make Nagasaki the last place hit by a nuclear bomb. The Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, echoed these sentiments by emphasizing Japan's commitment to leading global efforts towards a nuclear-free future while noting Japan's complex position as an ally of the US, which still maintains nuclear arms. In 2021, Japan rejected the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a point raised during the ceremony to reflect on the responsibilities of nuclear powers in a changing world, according to Africa News and TRT Global.