August 6 | Statement | On the Occasion of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Day
Key points of this article
・81 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima; mourning the victims and offering sympathies to the survivors
・Upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and calling for participation in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
・Passing on the reality of the atomic bombing and aiming for the non-use of nuclear weapons and a world without them
[Representative Statement] On the Occasion of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Day
Junya Ogawa, Representative of the Centrist Reform Coalition
81 years ago today, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima for the first time in human history, claiming many lives. I express my deepest condolences to all those who perished, and offer my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and those who still suffer from the aftereffects of the bombing.
Last year, we reached the milestone of 80 years since the bombing, and we renewed our determination to realize a world without nuclear weapons. However, in the world today, nuclear-armed states continue to engage in the use of force in violation of international law, and rhetoric hinting at the use of nuclear weapons remains unabated. With the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) and the failure to adopt a final document at three consecutive Review Conferences of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime is becoming increasingly opaque.
Within Japan as well, there are movements advocating for a review of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles in light of the revision of the three security documents. The current Prime Minister has long held the view that the 'no introduction' principle should be reviewed, and late last year, even talk of nuclear sharing emerged from senior officials at the Prime Minister's Office. In the proposals for revising the three security documents compiled by the party in the ruling coalition, a 'realistic examination' of the 'no introduction' principle was requested, and the Minister of Defense has repeatedly mentioned the necessity of discussing nuclear weapons.
The global security environment is undergoing drastic changes, and the security environment surrounding our country is becoming severe. However, the increase and proliferation of nuclear weapons only heighten tensions. As the only country to have suffered an atomic bombing in war, Japan must continue its efforts to maintain the NPT regime and pave the way for steady nuclear disarmament by participating as an observer in the Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, playing a bridging role between nuclear-armed and non-nuclear-armed states, advocating for the importance of nuclear disarmament, and cooperating with countries that desire the abolition of nuclear weapons.
On this day, 81 years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the Centrist Reform Coalition pledges to continue to pass on the catastrophic damage and long-term inhumane suffering that Hiroshima experienced—the tragedy of nuclear weapons—to future generations across time. We pledge to uphold the pacifism based on our Constitution, adhere to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and continue our efforts toward the continued non-use of nuclear weapons and the realization of a 'world without nuclear weapons' so that humanity will never again be a victim of the tragedy of nuclear weapons.