What's happened
On August 9, 2024, Nagasaki marked the 79th anniversary of its atomic bombing, with Mayor Shiro Suzuki calling for nuclear disarmament. The ceremony was overshadowed by the absence of Western ambassadors, who were not invited due to the exclusion of Israel. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan's commitment to a nuclear-free world amidst rising global tensions.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Mari Yamaguchi in The Independent, Mayor Shiro Suzuki emphasized the need for nuclear disarmament, stating, "You must face up to the reality that the very existence of nuclear weapons poses an increasing threat to humankind." However, critics argue that excluding Israel undermines the peace message of the ceremony, as noted in The Japan Times. The South China Morning Post highlights that Japan's reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence complicates its disarmament pledges, with Prime Minister Kishida acknowledging the challenges posed by current global conflicts. This sentiment is echoed by Hiroshima officials, who stress the urgency of abolishing nuclear weapons amid rising tensions.
How we got here
The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, killing approximately 70,000 people. This year's ceremony was marked by controversy over the exclusion of Israel, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and Japan's reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence.
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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