After 80 Years, Nagasaki Bell Rings Again, Recalling A‑Bomb Tragedy

Peace Bells Ring in Nagasaki After 80-Year Silence

August 9, 2025 – Nagasaki’s twin cathedral bells chimed together for the first time since the city was bombed in 1945, marking a solemn reminder of the atomic tragedy and a pledge for global peace.

Re‑awakening the City’s History

• At 11:02 am on 9 Aug 1945, the U.S. dropped a nuclear weapon on Nagasaki, killing roughly 74,000 residents.
• On 15 Aug 1945, Japan surrendered, ending World War II.
• Historians debate whether the bomb saved lives by ending the war, yet survivors endured decades of physical and psychological trauma.

From Destruction to Restoration

A former Hercules bomber dropped a 125,000‑dollar bell, forged by American Catholics, onto the cathedral’s northern tower, re‑joining the southern bell at the exact moment the bomb detonated. The twin towers, rebuilt in 1959, stand on a hill overlooking the city’s ruins.

Message of Peace

Kenichi Yamamura, chief priest, said the bells “show humanity’s greatness.” He urged the world to act against violence, “by praying and living, we demonstrate how senseless it is to take another’s life.”

Global Participation

Nearly 100 nations attended the 2025 commemoration, including Russia and Israel. Nagasaki’s officials emphasized the need for participants to “witness the catastrophic reality of a nuclear weapon.”

Inspiring Legacy

James Nolan, a sociology professor at Williams College, led a year‑long lecture tour on the atomic bomb across U.S. churches. He raised funds from American Catholics, many of whom were unaware of Nagasaki’s Christian survivors – a story echoed in Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence and its 2016 film adaptation.

When the new bell rang, thousands “were literally in tears,” Nolan recalled, a testament to the enduring spirit of forgiveness and rebuilding that continues to echo in Nagasaki today.