Japan Press Weekly

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2013 March 13 - 19 [ANTI-N-ARMS]

Kobe celebrates 38th anniversary of nuclear-free Kobe port

March 18 marked the 38th anniversary of the enforcement of the so-called Kobe Formula banning nuclear-capable warships from entering Kobe Port in Hyogo Prefecture.

The Kobe City Assembly 38 years ago adopted a resolution requiring all foreign vessels to submit certification to prove that they are not carrying nuclear weapons before making a port call at Kobe. Since then, amid an increase in U.S. military port calls at other civil ports in Japan, none has anchored at Kobe.

At a rally celebrating the nuclear-free Kobe Formula held on this day, Secretary General of the Hyogo Prefectural Council against A and H Bombs (Hyogo Gensuikyo) Kajimoto Shushi said, “This requirement implemented by a local government has had the power to put pressure on the world’s largest military power.”

Kajimoto called on the 160 participants at the event to further increase the signature-collection drive calling for the abolition of all nuclear weapons and to defend the nuclear-free Kobe Formula.

Peace activist Lee Jun-Kyu from South Korea gave a lecture on the denuclearization of East Asia and proposed approaches to solving the North Korean nuclear issue based on the Six-Party Talks agreeing upon the renunciation of nuclear-weapons development.

Related past articles:
> Kobe in 37th year as nuclear-free city [March 20, 2012]
> Fuwa speaks at 35th anniversary of nuclear-free Kobe Port Formula [March 21-22, 2010]