Consul Manara in Nagasaki to Mark 80th Anniversary of Atomic Horror

Nagasaki: The city of Nagasaki commemorates 80 years since the horror of the atomic bomb dropped on Aug. 9, 1945, by the United States. A minute’s silence was observed in the Japanese city at 11:02 a.m. local time (4:02 a.m. in Italy) inside the Peace Park. The memorial event was attended by 94 countries and regions. Also representing Italy was the consul general of Italy in Osaka, Filippo Manara.

According to Ansa News Agency, Consul Manara expressed Italy’s solidarity with Japan during this solemn occasion. “With our presence, on Aug. 6 in Hiroshima and today at the Nagasaki ceremony, together with so many other members of the diplomatic corps, we wanted to offer Italy’s strong closeness to our friend the Japanese people in commemorating this tragic anniversary,” said the Italian consul.

Manara highlighted the profound impact of Hibakusha Hiroshi Noshioka’s testimony, who detailed the devastation caused by the explosion and the enduring physical and mental scars it left on him and the Japanese people. Des
pite the tragic memories, Noshioka’s words were also filled with hope. The Italian consul recalled the Hibakusha’s dedication to preventing nuclear weapons’ proliferation, an effort that earned the Nihon Hidankyo Association the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024.

Consul Manara emphasized that this commitment deserves the unwavering support of everyone who cares about the future of humanity. He concluded with a powerful message from Noshioka that resonated with the international community: “We must never again make use of atomic weapons. If we do, everything will end.”