Commemorations were underway in Japan’s Nagasaki on Saturday (August 9) to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on the city, with many spreading a message of peace.

“I truly believe a tragedy like this must never be repeated,” said Daiji Kawanaka, 14-year-old tourist from Osaka, sharing that even among his peers, the anniversary prompts conversations about peace.

"We can only pledge to take the initiative ourselves in making a step toward peace,” he said.

He’s one of many who bowed their heads in prayer at Nagasaki Peace Park as the city held a memorial ceremony to pay tribute to the souls of those who fell victims of the atomic bombing.

The western Japanese city of Nagasaki was levelled on August 9, 1945, when the United States dropped a 10,000-pound plutonium-239 bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," on the city instantly killing approximately 27,000 people from an estimated population of 200,000.

The bombing of Nagasaki followed the atomic bombing of Hiroshima three days earlier and contributed to Japan's surrender on Aug. 15, 1945, effectively ending World War Two.

Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, has stated its commitment to nuclear disarmament but is not a signatory or observer of the U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

NAGASAKI, JAPAN (AUGUST 9, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF VISITORS STANDING IN FRONT OF NAGASAKI PEACE STATUE IN RAIN

2. 14-YEAR-OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT FROM OSAKA, DAIJI KAWANAKA, PRAYING AND BOWING

3. NAGASAKI PEACE STATUE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 14-YEAR-OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT FROM OSAKA, DAIJI KAWANAKA, SAYING:

“We really need to reflect on what we can do to make sure something like this never happens again. I truly believe a tragedy like this must never be repeated. Among my friends too, when the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki come around, we talk about how such things should never happen again. We can only pledge to take the initiative ourselves in making a step toward peace.”

5. MAN PLACING INCENSE IN SAND

6. MAN PRAYING

7. INCENSE STICKS BURNING

8. MAN PRAYING

9. FLORAL BOUQUET

10. NAGASAKI PEACE STATUE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 30-YEAR-OLD CIVIL SERVANT FROM IBARAKI PREFECTURE, KAITO SHINOZUKA, SAYING:

"Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the atomic bombs were dropped, are part of Japan, I think it's our role to properly send out the message that peace is important. Conflicts are happening in various countries around the world, and in that sense, I think it's important to communicate that such things are not beneficial.”

12. WOMAN PRAYING IN NAGASAKI HYPOCENTER PARK IN RAIN/ STANDING IN POOLED RAIN WATER

13. WOMAN WALKING IN POOL OF RAIN WATER

14. WREATH AT MONUMENT

15. WOMAN PRAYING

16. MAN LAYING BOUQUET AT MONUMENT

17. MONUMENT READING (Japanese): “The number of victims of atomic bombing is 201,942 as of August 9, 2025”

18. PAPER CRANES HANGING, SIGN READING (English): “NO NUKES / 80 / NO WAR"

19. ENTRANCE TO MEMORIAL CEREMONY

20. PAPER CRANES HANGING, NOTE READING (Japanese): “PEACE"

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 76-YEAR-OLD VISITOR FROM OSAKA, HIROKO OKAMURA, SAYING:

“Even though 80 years have passed, the fact that nuclear weapons still haven’t been abolished… this reality (destructive nature of nuclear weapons) is something that even ordinary people like us can understand, so I just can’t understand why the world leaders and politicians can’t grasp it. It’s completely baffling.”

22. VARIOUS OF MONKS CHANTING FOR PEACE DURING DEMONSTRATION