Japan Press Weekly

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2023 September 27 - October 3 [PEACE]

On UN antinuke Int'l Day, actions take place in Tokyo and Hiroshima

On September 26, the UN International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, actions to collect signatures calling for Japan's participation in the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and A-bomb photo exhibitions took place in Tokyo and Hiroshima City.

In Tokyo, the Japan Conference against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) and the Tokyo Federation of A-Bomb Sufferers' Organizations (Toyukai) conducted a signature-collection event near Shinjuku Station.

Yasui Masakazu of the Japan Gensuikyo quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying, "The elimination of nuclear weapons is the largest gift the world could give to future generations." Yasui added that while the number of signatories and ratifiers to the TPNW reached 93 countries and 69 countries, respectively, Japan, the only A-bombed state in the world has not yet even signed the treaty.

Along with Japanese passersby, foreigners visiting Japan signed a petition calling on the Japanese government to sign and ratify the UN treaty. Signing the petition, a 24-year-old tourist from Chile said, "I went to Hiroshima the other day and visited the Peace Memorial Museum. I was too shocked for words. We must get rid of both war and nuclear weapons." A woman from Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in her 80s said, "I want young people to realize that Japan is promoting military expansion."

In downtown Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Gensuikyo and the Hiroshima Federation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo) took to the streets. Holding up a banner and panels, peace activists and A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) distributed copies of the flyer with an online-signature QR code displayed.

An 82-year-old man, who lost many of his relatives and friends in the A-bombing of Hiroshima, when signing the petition said, "No one else should suffer the loss of loved ones as I did."