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Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
Nagasaki cathedral blesses a bell that replaces one destroyed by the US atomic bomb
TOKYO — A Nagasaki cathedral has blessed the final piece to complete its restoration nearly 80 years after being destroyed by the second U.S. atomic bomb dropped on Japan: a reproduction of its lost bell restored by a group of Americans. The new bell was blessed and named 'St. Kateri Bell of Hope,' by Peter Michiaki Nakamura, archbishop of Nagasaki, at the Urakami Cathedral in a ceremony Thursday attended by more than 100 followers and other participants. The bell is scheduled to be hung inside the cathedral, filling the empty bell tower for the first time, on Aug. 9, the anniversary of the bombing. The U.S. bomb that was dropped Aug. 9, 1945, fell near the cathedral, killing two priests and 24 followers inside among the more than 70,000 dead in the city. Japan surrendered, ending World War II days later. The bombing of Nagasaki destroyed the cathedral building and the smaller of its two bells. The building was restored earlier, but without the smaller bell. The restoration project was led by James Nolan Jr., who was inspired after hearing about the lost bell when he met a local Catholic follower during his 2023 visit to Nagasaki. Nolan lectured about the atomic bombing in the southern city and its history about Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japan's feudal era, to raise funds for the bell restoration. 'I think it's beautiful and the bell itself is more beautiful than I ever imagined,' Nolan, who was at the blessing ceremony, said after he test-rang the bell. He said he hoped the bell 'will be a symbol of unity and that will bear the fruits of fostering hope and peace in a world where there is division and war and hurt.' A sociology professor at Williams College in Massachusetts, Nolan is the grandson of a doctor who was in the Manhattan Project — the secret effort to build the bombs — and who was on a survey team that visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki shortly after the bombings. Nolan, based on materials his grandfather left behind, wrote a book 'Atomic Doctors,' about the moral dilemma of medical doctors who took part in the Manhattan Project.
NHK
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Video believed to be oldest of Nagasaki's bombed cathedral found
NHK has learned that a newly-discovered video showing Nagasaki's Urakami Cathedral before its destruction by an atomic bomb is believed to be the oldest footage of the church. Urakami Cathedral was completed in 1925 after 30 years of construction. Destroyed in the 1945 atomic bombing, the current structure was rebuilt in the postwar years. NHK says a black and white video of the church lasting around 30 seconds has been found in the broadcaster's archives. The video was shot on a home movie camera by kabuki actor Nakamura Shikaku, who was known to be a keen amateur cameraman. The video was donated to NHK in 1976. NHK examined the footage with Matsuda Sei, who heads the photo material research division at the Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of Peace. They said the side walls of the structure look whitish. Based on several postcards showing Urakami Cathedral before its destruction, they determined that the video was shot before 1934, when the walls were repainted in a brick-red color. They also looked into records of Nakamura's kabuki performances. They found that the actor toured the prefecture in March of 1930. This coincides with a note attached to the video which says it was filmed around 1930. Matsuda said that the oldest video of the cathedral is thought to have been taken around 1932, indicating that this newly-found video is the oldest confirmed to date. Matsuda noted that it is often difficult to confirm when a private video was taken. He added that the discovery of previously unseen footage holds significant value, as many documents have been lost over the years.
The Mainichi
25-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Restored Urakami Cathedral bell unveiled in Nagasaki as symbol of hope, reconciliation
NAGASAKI -- One of the two bells from the former Urakami Cathedral here, which was destroyed by the U.S. atomic bombing during World War II, was recently unveiled after being restored with donations from U.S. Catholics and others. After being exhibited, the bell is set to ring alongside its counterpart at 11:02 a.m. on Aug. 9, exactly 80 years after the bombing. The original Urakami Cathedral was completed in 1914 after 20 years of construction. The Romanesque-style brick cathedral with twin spires extending approximately 26 meters high was hailed as the largest in the East at the time. The spires housed a large and a small bell, which reportedly rang together only on special occasions like Christmas. On Aug. 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, devastating the cathedral located about 500 meters northeast of the hypocenter. According to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Damage Records, dozens of priests and Christians were killed. The large bell from the south spire was miraculously recovered from the rubble and reinstalled in the rebuilt cathedral, but the smaller bell from the north spire was destroyed and remained lost. James Nolan Jr., 62, a professor of sociology at Williams College in the United States, proposed the donation. His grandfather was a physician involved in the Manhattan Project, which developed atomic bombs, and visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki as part of a survey team shortly after the bombings. Nolan compiled an account detailing his grandfather's conflicts over the atomic bombings based on records his grandfather left behind, and published the Japanese edition of a book in 2022, showing his deepest sympathy for Nagasaki. In May 2023, while visiting Nagasaki to write another book, Nolan met Kojiro Moriuchi, 72, a local Catholic and descendant of Japan's hidden Christians who went underground amid persecution during the Edo period (1603-1867). Moriuchi, also a second-generation hibakusha, or A-bomb survivor, told Nolan about the lost bell and suggested, "How wonderful it would be if American Catholics could donate a bell." Moved by the idea, Nolan gave lectures across the U.S., discussing the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the suffering of the survivors, the history of the hidden Christians and his desire to restore the Urakami Cathedral bell. He noted that many Americans were unaware of these facts, and donated money sometimes with tears in their eyes. More than 500 Catholic donors contributed approximately $105,000. Nolan introduced comments that accompanied donors' gifts. One person said, "May the second Nagasaki church bell be reinstalled and ring aloud with its right sibling for the end to war and nuclear disarmament." Another remarked, "This donation for the bell is to heal the wounds of this war and progress toward world peace." A company in St. Louis, Missouri, handled the production of the bell, and it was cast in the Netherlands. Weighing 224 kilograms and measuring 66 centimeters high and 80.7 cm in diameter, it is made of bronze, and was restored with approximately the same size, shape and design as the small bell that was in place before the bombing. Nolan told the Mainichi Shimbun, "At the heart of the gift is our sense of sorrow for what the people of Nagasaki have suffered and our hope for reconciliation, forgiveness and peace. The gift is also an expression of our admiration, respect and gratitude for the incredible example of the Nagasaki Catholics, who throughout history endured unimaginable suffering and yet remained steadfast in their faith." Nolan observed the May 15 unveiling online. Archbishop Michiaki Nakamura of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki stated, "The fact that a new bell will ring out has great significance for Nagasaki, Japan, the United States and the entire world. I hope it will continue to ring as a bell of prayer for the victims and for peace." Kenichi Yamamura, the chief priest of Urakami Cathedral, added, "For us, the restoration of the bell shows the power to change what happened in the past toward a better path." With the restoration realized, Moriuchi said, "Urakami has experienced both persecution for faith and devastation from the atomic bombing. The bell, made as a gesture of understanding for this suffering and for people to join hands, will be an asset to humanity." Moriuchi had heard many times from his father about the aftermath of the bombing in Nagasaki and how his father baptized a schoolgirl who had collapsed on the street, and this has strengthened his desire for peace. His father also had a deep attachment to the cathedral bells, often saying, "When the two bells rang, it was magnificent." "The ringing of the two bells means peace. I hope that the sound of the bells will give people hope and become a source of comfort," said Moriuchi, looking forward to the moment when the bells will ring together.
Yomiuri Shimbun
24-05-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Nagasaki Cathedral Receives U.S.-Donated Bell to Replace Previous One Damaged in A-Bombing
The Yomiuri Shimbun Visitors look at a new bell donated to Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Saturday. The bell replaces the previous one damaged in the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing. NAGASAKI — Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki has received a bell to replace one damaged due to the U.S. atomic bombing of the city. The new bell was completed under a U.S. project and is on display at a museum ahead of its installment. Urakami Cathedral was destroyed along with its twin towers when the atomic bomb exploded about 500 meters away on Aug. 9, 1945. The south tower bell was found nearly intact, while the north tower one was severely damaged. The south tower bell is now in the cathedral's replacement building that was completed in 1959. The donated bronze bell is almost the same size as its predecessor, measuring 66 centimeters in height, 80.7 centimeters in diameter and weighs 224 kilograms. Prof. James Nolan Jr. at Williams College launched the project to create and donate the bell by soliciting support from Catholics in the country. The 62-year-old professor is the grandson of James Nolan, who participated in the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb. The donated bell is on display through June 1 along with the damaged original. It is scheduled to be installed in the cathedral's north tower in July.
NHK
15-05-2025
- General
- NHK
Bell donated by US Catholics to atomic-bombed Nagasaki cathedral shown to media
A new bell donated by US Catholics for an atomic-bombed cathedral in the Japanese city of Nagasaki was unveiled to the media on Thursday. The bell was made under an American project to replace one destroyed at Urakami Cathedral in 1945 ahead of the 80th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing. The cathedral originally had two bells, each hanging in a separate tower. The rebuilt cathedral only has the surviving bell, which was recovered from the rubble. On Thursday, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki revealed the donated bell, which is a faithful replica of the original bronze one. At a news conference, Nagasaki Archbishop Nakamura Michiaki said the sound of the new bell ringing into the future will be of great significance not just for Catholics but also for Nagasaki and the United States. He said he believes the new bell will provide hope for efforts to achieve world peace. James Nolan Jr., who is the grandson of a doctor involved in the development of atomic bombs and who coordinated the bell project, attended the news conference online. He said he is honored to be able to help restore the sound that had been lost for 80 years to Urakami Cathedral. The Archdiocese of Nagasaki says the new bell will be placed in the tower in July, and will be first rung there at 11:02 a.m. on August 9 -- the time the bomb exploded 80 years ago.
