Nagasaki

On August 9, 1945, a U.S. B-29 Superfortress dropped an atomic device over Nagasaki. Other historical milestones include the start of construction on Pisa Cathedral in 1173 and the publication of Henry David Thoreau’s "Walden" in 1854. More recently, Michael Brown Jr.’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked protests that helped fuel the national “Black Lives Matter” movement.

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.

Nagasaki recently marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing. During this commemoration, a mayor stated that nuclear deterrence only increases risk.