S/ Suzuki Shiro, Nagasaki Mayor/ We will send an invitation to the representatives of countries and regions with diplomatic offices in Japan.

Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki Shiro announced during a May 8 city hall press conference that all 157 countries and regions with diplomatic offices in Japan will be invited to this year’s Peace Memorial Ceremony.

The city of Nagasaki did not invite Russia and its ally Belarus for three consecutive years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Last year, Nagasaki did not invite Israel for its ongoing attack on Palestine citing a desire for a smooth ceremony. 

This led the EU and the G7 countries besides Japan to send a substitute in the place of ambassadors to the ceremony.

S/ Suzuki Shiro, Nagasaki Mayor/ We would like to overcome all divisions and conduct a ceremony where representatives from various countries will gather in the A-bomb site of Nagasaki.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.