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Hiroshima angered over U.S. subcritical nuclear test

by Yumi Kanazaki and Kanako Noda, Staff Writers

After learning that the United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test on September 15, A-bomb survivors and citizens in Hiroshima expressed their opposition to the test on October 13 through such actions as a sit-in protest held at Peace Memorial Park. A clock tower called the "Peace Watch Tower," which stands in the East Building of Peace Memorial Museum and displays the number of days since the world's last nuclear test, was also reset to 28 from 506.

Nearly 50 people from such organizations as the Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Kazushi Kaneko, staged a sit-in in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims for about 30 minutes in the early afternoon.

Nobuo Takahashi, director of the Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, said with indignation: "This test runs counter to the world without nuclear weapons advocated by U.S. President Barack Obama. We call for the immediate halt of such tests."

The Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs joined other organizations in sending a letter of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Japan. They argued that the test is a dramatic departure from the spirit of the final document that was adopted at the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.

The other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi, and Hiroshima Local of Japanese Trade Union Confederation have decided that they will stage a sit-in protest, too, on October 14.

The Peace Watch Tower stands in the lobby on the first floor of the East Building of Peace Memorial Museum. At 3 p.m. on October 13, Koichiro Maeda, director of the museum, reset the number on display to 28, representing the number of days since the recent subcritical nuclear test was conducted. This marked the first test since North Korean conducted an underground nuclear test on May 25, 2009.

"I feel betrayed by the U.S. posture of showing its intention to maintain its nuclear arsenal," Mr. Maeda said.

(Originally published on October 14, 2010)


Hiroshima mayor expresses outrage over nuclear test

by Kyoren Takamasa, Staff Writer

In response to the subcritical nuclear test carried out by the United States, each heads of local governments in Hiroshima prefecture sent a letter of protest to U.S. leaders, including President Barack Obama, on October 13. Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba spoke about the hopes felt by many people with regard to Mr. Obama's efforts for nuclear abolition and sharply criticized the United States: "I feel outrage over this test. On behalf of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I lodge a stern protest." The mayor went on to make a strong call for Mr. Obama to visit Hiroshima, saying, "I would like the president to understand the wishes and the experiences of the A-bomb survivors who have chosen to seek reconciliation over retaliation."

In their letters voicing objection to the test, other Hiroshima leaders expressed their displeasure in the following ways: Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki criticized the test as "an action that throws cold water on the United States' own efforts for a world without nuclear weapons"; Hatsukaichi Mayor Katsuhiro Shinno argued "The test is appalling and unacceptable"; Kure Mayor Kazutoshi Komura stressed that the United States needs to stop and think about the significance of the fact that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama; Fukuyama Mayor Akira Hada referred to the world's keen momentum for nuclear abolition and stated "The test is deplorable and ignores the wishes of people for peace in the world"; Onomichi Mayor Yuko Hiratani called for "a moratorium on all nuclear testing"; and Mihara Mayor Yasuyuki Goto said "I call strongly on the United States to make positive efforts for the abolition of nuclear arms, seeing this as the responsibility of a nuclear weapons state."

(Originally published on October 14, 2010)


Japanese government plans no protest against U.S. nuclear test

by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer

Commenting on the subcritical nuclear test carried out by the United States in September, the first such test conducted by the Obama administration, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku revealed the government's reaction at a regular news conference held on October 13: "The test was conducted to secure the reliability and safety of nuclear weapons held by the United States and an explosion, which is banned by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), was not produced." He went on to say: "No protest or opinion is planned in response to the U.S. test."

Speaking to the view that "The test runs counter to the policy of seeking a world without nuclear weapons that has been advocated by U.S. President Barack Obama and supported by the Japanese government," he responded, "I don't think that's the case."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Naoto Kan commented at the prime minister's office: "We must exert efforts so that a nuclear-free world can be realized, making it unnecessary to conduct any nuclear tests, including subcritical tests."

(Originally published on October 13, 2010)

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