by Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director, Western States Legal Foundation; National Co-convener, United for Peace & Justice; Mayors for Peace North American Coordinator
photo: the Nagasaki Peace Statue
August 6th and 9th marked the 80th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To commemorate this historic milestone, solemn official commemorations with thousands of governmental and nongovernmental representatives from around the world in attendance were held in each of the two cities, presided over by their respective mayors. There were also large international conferences that took place in multiple venues organized by Gensuikyo (the World Conference Against A and H Bombs), Mayors for Peace, and others.
While it would be nearly impossible to summarize the many talks, meetings, and events that took place, a number of common themes emerged. First and foremost, there was an emphasis on recognizing the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors), whose average age is now over 86 years, by listening to and preserving their personal testimonies for future generations. In particular, the hibakusha were appreciated for their contribution to preventing another nuclear weapon use by painfully sharing their horrific experiences of the bombings, so that “no one else should ever again suffer as we have.” For their efforts, Nihon Hidankyo, the association of Japanese a-bomb survivors, received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
There was a palpable level of concern about rising tensions among nuclear-armed states, renewed arms racing, and the growing dangers of a nuclear confrontation, with particular reference to threats by the Russian government, and the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran’s nuclear facilities. There were strong denunciations of the Israeli government’s genocidal war on Gaza, and it was particularly poignant to hear some of the hibakusha compare photos of bombed-out Gaza bombings with their own recollections of the aftermath of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Many presentations underscored the urgent need for new thinking, in an increasingly unstable world, to end states’ increasing reliance on the doctrine of “nuclear deterrence” as the basis for national security. As stated in the World Conference Against A and H Bombs International Declaration: “‛Nuclear deterrence’ is a policy based on the premise of a catastrophic outcome from a nuclear attack, far greater than the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and is absolutely unacceptable from a humanitarian and moral standpoint.”
It was noted that this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, “to end the scourge of war,” and calls were made to “uphold the UN Charter, oppose aggression, war, and military buildups, and work in solidarity with various movements seeking peace and disarmament to develop a global movement toward a ‘nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world’.”
Finally, since Japan is the only country that has (so far) experienced a nuclear weapons attack, the Japanese government was called upon to reaffirm the three non-nuclear principles in its Constitution – not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons in the nation.
The Japanese government was also called upon to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) or at least to send an observer to the TPNW’s first Review Conference next year.
Being in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the annual August commemorations of the U.S. atomic bombings is an emotional experience. For those attending for the first time, imagining and trying to come to grips with the reality of those bombings can be overwhelming. Nick Rabb, a board member of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security, writes about his experience at Testimony of the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: No More Nuclear Weapons – They have been telling their stories for nearly 80 years. It’s about time more of us listen.
Read the World Conference Against A and H Bombs Declaration of the 2025 International Meeting here.
Read about the Mayors for Peace 2025 General Conference in Nagasaki here.
Read the 2025 Hiroshima Peace Declaration, delivered by Mayor Kazumi Matsui on August 6 here.
Read the 2025 Nagasaki Peace Declaration, delivered by Mayor Shinro Suzuki on August 9 here.
As Mayor Suzuki concluded: “I hereby declare that 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 towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.”
Quoting the late Senji Yamaguchi, the first hibakusha to describe the horrific scene of the bombing to the United Nations General Assembly in 1982, Mayor Suzuki demanded, “No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis. No more war. No more hibakusha.”
