A-bomb survivors' group marks 70th anniv. of founding

A-bomb survivors' group marks 70th anniv. of founding

Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, holds a press conference in Nagasaki on Aug. 10, 2026, to mark the 70th anniversary of the organization's founding. The group was inaugurated on Aug. 10, 1956 -- a day after Nagasaki marked the 11th anniversary of its U.S. atomic bombing -- when the second world anti-nuclear weapons conference was taking place in the southwestern Japan city.

A-bomb survivors' group marks 70th anniv. of founding

A-bomb survivors' group marks 70th anniv. of founding

Shigemitsu Tanaka, co-chair of 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, holds a press conference in Nagasaki on Aug. 10, 2026, to mark the 70th anniversary of the organization's founding. The group was inaugurated on Aug. 10, 1956 -- a day after Nagasaki marked the 11th anniversary of its U.S. atomic bombing -- when the second world anti-nuclear weapons conference was taking place in the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Catholics carry the surviving bust of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, during a torchlight procession in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Catholics carry the surviving bust of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, during a torchlight procession in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Catholics carry the surviving bust of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, during a torchlight procession in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Catholics carry the surviving bust of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, during a torchlight procession in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Catholics carry the surviving bust of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, during a torchlight procession in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Lit lanterns are placed along the Urakami River in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Lit lanterns are placed along the Urakami River in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

People attend Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

People attend Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japan men's football team head coach Hajime Moriyasu prays in front of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japan men's football team head coach Hajime Moriyasu prays in front of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) visits Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II. (Pool photo)

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) visits a nursery home for atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II. (Pool photo)

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) visits a nursery home for atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II. (Pool photo)

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (far L) receives paper listing a set of demands during a meeting with representatives of groups of atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II. (Pool photo)

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (back) receives paper listing a set of demands during a meeting with representatives of groups of atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Survivor Chiyoko Motomura, 87, speaks during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Survivor Chiyoko Motomura, 87, speaks during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with representatives of groups of atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with representatives of groups of atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, after attending a memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

People queue in front of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

People queue in front of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

People queue in front of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki reads out the Peace Declaration during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki (3rd from L) prepares to place a wreath during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepares to place a wreath during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Doves are released during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Doves are released during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Doves are released during a memorial ceremony held at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city in World War II.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

A memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki is held at Peace Park in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

A memorial ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki is held at Peace Park in the southwestern Japan city on Aug. 9, 2026.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Paper cranes are placed in the park marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Paper cranes are placed in the park marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Ambassadors to Japan head to the cenotaph marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, to lay flowers on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Ambassadors to Japan head to the cenotaph marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, to lay flowers on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Ambassadors to Japan head to the cenotaph marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, to lay flowers on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Ambassadors to Japan head to the cenotaph marking the hypocenter of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, to lay flowers on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the blast.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Photo shows the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on Aug. 8, 2026, the eve of the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Photo shows the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on the early morning of Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Photo shows the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on the early morning of Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

Photo shows the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki on the early morning of Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

A woman prays during Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2026, the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japanese Prince Hisahito visits a peace museum built at an elementary school in Hiroshima that survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 7, 2026, a day after the 81st anniversary of the attack on the western Japan city. The blast left about 400 students dead at the school. (Pool photo)

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japanese Prince Hisahito visits a peace museum built at an elementary school in Hiroshima that survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 7, 2026, a day after the 81st anniversary of the attack on the western Japan city. The blast left about 400 students dead at the school. (Pool photo)

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japan Prince Hisahito visits A-bomb-hit school in Hiroshima

Japanese Prince Hisahito visits a peace museum built at an elementary school in Hiroshima that survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 7, 2026, a day after the 81st anniversary of the attack on the western Japan city. The blast left about 400 students dead at the school. (Pool photo)

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

81st A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki

An anti-nuclear weapons event is held in Nagasaki on Aug. 7, 2026, ahead of the 81st anniversary on Aug. 9 of the U.S. atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city.