nagasaki

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Nagasaki 60th memorial ceremony

Nagasaki City Mayor Ito Iccho on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9 published a "Peace Declaration" criticizing the United States for its insistence on nuclear deterrence. (For the text of the declaration, see separate item).

The Nagasaki mayor read the declaration at the city-sponsored ceremony with about 6,250 people attending, following a silent tribute to the victims at 11:02 a.m., the time of the explosion.

Mayor Ito criticized the United States for clinging to nuclear weapons, and called on U.S. citizens to work together to eliminate nuclear weapons. The mayor called on the Japanese government to defend the constitutional principles of peace, to enact the Three Non-Nuclear Principles (not producing, not possessing, and not bringing in nuclear weapons) into law, and to make efforts to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free.

On behalf of hibakusha (A-bomb victims), 74-year old Sakamoto Fumie read her commitment to peace. She said that as long as she lives, she will strive to make Nagasaki the last A-bombed city on earth. She was exposed to atomic bomb radiation at the age of 14, and now works as a vice president of Nagasaki council of A-bomb victims, with the fervent wish to see nuclear weapons abolished.

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, who attended the ceremony for his 5th time, referred to "observing the Constitution" and "firmly maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear principles," contrary to the de facto policy of his government. His speech got sparse applause.

A list of 2,748 names of hibakusha who died in the past year and of those whose deaths were confirmed are contained in the cenotaph, making officially recognized A-bomb deaths 137,330 in total. - Akahata, August 10, 2005