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Japanese team V-Varen Nagasaki launch special kit to commemorate anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city in Second World War

Bomb killed between 39,000 and 80,000 people

Tom Sheen
Tuesday 11 August 2015 11:44 BST
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J-League side V-Varen Nagasaki have launched two special kits to commemorate the 70th anniversary of atomic bombing of the city.

The bomb, the second and final time a nuclear bomb has been used in warfare, was dropped on 9 August 1945, three days after the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

The bombings by the US ended the Second World War with Japan surrendering on 12 August but killed at least 39,000 in the city, with some estimates reporting 80,000 dead; between 90,000-146,000 were killed in Hiroshima.

The V-Varen 'Pray for Peace' kit has been released as up to 70 per cent of Japanese citizens don't know the date of the bombing.

The orange and blue home shirt features an origami crane - a powerful symbol in Japan - as well as a picture of the statue in the city by Seibo Kitamura.

"The peaceful pray statue in Nagasaki and the folded paper crane are part of the design of this jersey," said the club's head coach Takuya Takagi.

"We can feel Nagasaki from these points. Playing in this jersey at the two matches is very significant. Especially the match on the 8th of August which is the day before the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. We would like to face the match with the mind of pray for peace and convey the preciousness of peace to new generations."

The goalkeeper kit is pink and yellow with the same design.

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The club have previously played in Hummel's infamous 'tuxedo' shirt

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