Overview

• At 11:02 am local time on August 9, Urakami Cathedral’s twin bells tolled together for the first time since the 1945 atomic bombing, marking its 80th anniversary.
• Survivors recounted decades of physical and psychological trauma, including accounts of hair loss, bleeding gums and social stigma from radiation exposure.
• Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued urgent appeals to end armed conflicts and pledged to lead nuclear disarmament efforts at the 2026 NPT review conference.
• The newly restored bell was funded by US$125,000 raised by American Catholics through sociology professor James Nolan, symbolizing global solidarity and reconciliation.
• Advocates warned that with hibakusha numbers falling below 100,000 and an average age above 86, recording survivor testimonies has become increasingly urgent.