May 11, 2023
The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Genuikyo) on May 10 made representations to the Foreign Ministry, demanding that at the G7 Hiroshima Summit starting next week, the Japanese government become the first G7 country to express its support for and willingness to participate in the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It also demanded that Prime Minister Kishida encourage his G7 counterparts to consider joining the TPNW.
The Japan Gensuikyo submitted signatures in support of this demand which the Gensuikyo collected from 173 local government heads and 135 local assembly heads within one month.
The anti-nuke organization also requested the government to arrange an opportunity for G7 leaders to hear testimonies of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and to urge G7 leaders to make efforts to fulfill agreements made in the past NPT review conferences.
A Foreign Ministry official in charge of disarmament and non-proliferation, Ito Shigeki, said that considering the severe security environment surrounding Japan, it is critically important to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities and rely on the U.S. “extended deterrence (aka. the nuclear umbrella)”.
Criticizing the ministry official’s argument, Gensuikyo Secretary General Yasui Masakazu pointed out that Japan’s move toward a military buildup will lead to an increase in tensions in the region, and said what Japan should do is to take the lead among G7 countries in deciding to take part in the TPNW and stop depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Other Gensuikyo representatives said that the only way to avoid devastating consequences associated with the security crisis is to abolish and ban nuclear weapons, stressing, “Therefore, we want G7 leaders to hear Hibakusha testimonies and visit the Hiroshima peace museum.”
The Japan Gensuikyo submitted signatures in support of this demand which the Gensuikyo collected from 173 local government heads and 135 local assembly heads within one month.
The anti-nuke organization also requested the government to arrange an opportunity for G7 leaders to hear testimonies of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and to urge G7 leaders to make efforts to fulfill agreements made in the past NPT review conferences.
A Foreign Ministry official in charge of disarmament and non-proliferation, Ito Shigeki, said that considering the severe security environment surrounding Japan, it is critically important to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities and rely on the U.S. “extended deterrence (aka. the nuclear umbrella)”.
Criticizing the ministry official’s argument, Gensuikyo Secretary General Yasui Masakazu pointed out that Japan’s move toward a military buildup will lead to an increase in tensions in the region, and said what Japan should do is to take the lead among G7 countries in deciding to take part in the TPNW and stop depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Other Gensuikyo representatives said that the only way to avoid devastating consequences associated with the security crisis is to abolish and ban nuclear weapons, stressing, “Therefore, we want G7 leaders to hear Hibakusha testimonies and visit the Hiroshima peace museum.”
