Sun Jan 05 13:16:30 UTC 2025: ## Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivor Shigemi Fukahori Dies at 93
**Nagasaki, Japan –** Shigemi Fukahori, a survivor of the 1945 Nagasaki atomic bombing and a lifelong advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament, passed away at the age of 93 on January 3rd, 2025. The Urakami Catholic Church, a symbol of hope and resilience located near ground zero, announced his death on Sunday. Local media attributed the cause of death to old age.
Fukahori was just 14 when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, an event that killed tens of thousands and claimed members of his own family. The experience profoundly impacted him, leaving him initially unable to speak about the horrors he witnessed. However, around 15 years ago, a meeting with a Spanish survivor of the Guernica bombing spurred him to become a vocal advocate for peace.
He shared his harrowing experiences with countless students, urging them to carry on the “baton of peace.” In 2019, he presented Pope Francis with a wreath of white flowers during the Pope’s visit to Nagasaki. The following year, he delivered a powerful “pledge for peace,” vowing to make Nagasaki “the final place where an atomic bomb is ever dropped.” His work gained further prominence following the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, which represents atomic bomb survivors.
A wake is scheduled for January 5th, and a funeral service for January 6th at the Urakami Church, where his daughter will represent the family. Fukahori’s passing marks the loss of a significant voice in the global movement for nuclear disarmament and a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of the atomic bombings of Japan.
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