Nagasaki marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor says nuclear deterrence only increases risk

On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, mayor Shiro Suzuki denounced nuclear weapons as 'absolute evil,' warning that relying on nuclear deterrence increases the risk of war and urging the Japanese government to adhere to its non-nuclear principles. This criticism occurred as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government revised defense policy to bolster offensive capability, leading to speculation about bringing nuclear weapons into the country. Suzuki also demanded Japan uphold its war-renouncing Constitution and attend the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons review conference.