Japanese Team V-Varen Nagasaki Produce Special Kits to Commemorate WWII Bombings

With August 9 marking 70 years since an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, local side V-Varen Nagasaki have produced two special kits to commemorate the anniversary.

The "Pray for Peace" kit features a picture of Seibo Kitamura's statue, a prominent feature in the city, as well as origami cranes, a popular symbol in Japan. 

V-Varen head coach Takuya Takagi explained the meaning behind the design, via the Independent.

"

The peaceful pray statue in Nagasaki and the folded paper crane are part of the design of this jersey. 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.

"

Between 39,000 and 80,000 people were killed by the bomb on August 9, 1945, effectively bringing an end to World War II as Japan surrendered three days later.

[h/t the Independent, Yahoo Sport UK]