Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing Sunday, with Mayor Shiro Suzuki warning that growing global reliance on nuclear deterrence only heightens the risk of nuclear war. "The theory of nuclear deterrence is extremely dangerous and fragile. Nuclear weapons are not a 'necessary evil' but an 'absolute evil,' and can never coexist with humanity," Suzuki told the crowd. He directed his sharpest remarks at nuclear-armed states and their allies, warning that "the more you rely on nuclear deterrence, the more you increase the risk of a nuclear war." Takaichi's ambiguity on the issue has drawn scrutiny in recent days, as her government has moved to revise Japan's defense policy to expand the military's offensive capabilities.