Japan decides not to attend TPNW meeting, disappoints hibakusha
Jun. 19, 2022
by Hajime Niiyama and Taiki Yomura, Staff Writers
A-bomb survivors expressed their disappointment after the Japanese government announced June 15 it would not participate in the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which will open June 21 in Austria. They have been calling on the government to attend the meeting at least as an observer, but the government decided not to.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima Prefecture’s District No. 1, says that realizing a world without nuclear weapons is his life’s work. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 80, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), said, “I hoped the prime minister, who stresses he was elected from Hiroshima, would take a bold step for the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is disappointing he made a backward-looking decision.” Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization rely on U.S. nuclear deterrence, but some of its member states, including Germany, will participate in the meeting. “Why cannot Japan do so? The government should change its attitude,” said Mr. Mimaki.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 77, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, drooped his shoulders in disappointment and said, “If the Japanese government really wants to abolish nuclear weapons, participation in the meeting is crucial. They should show their will not only in words but in actions.” He said that he would continue a petition drive tenaciously calling on the government to participate in the meeting.
Sueichi Kido, 82, secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, will visit Austria timed for the conference. Referring to the Japanese government’s stance that it will serve as a bridge between the nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states, Mr. Kido said, “The conference will be a perfect opportunity for Japan to serve as a bridge. There is a contradiction.” He showed his frustration, saying, “The influence of the nation that experienced nuclear attacks during the war will be great. If Japan participates, it will be able to change the trend of the world’s opinion.”
(Originally published on June 19, 2022）
A-bomb survivors expressed their disappointment after the Japanese government announced June 15 it would not participate in the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which will open June 21 in Austria. They have been calling on the government to attend the meeting at least as an observer, but the government decided not to.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima Prefecture’s District No. 1, says that realizing a world without nuclear weapons is his life’s work. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 80, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), said, “I hoped the prime minister, who stresses he was elected from Hiroshima, would take a bold step for the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is disappointing he made a backward-looking decision.” Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization rely on U.S. nuclear deterrence, but some of its member states, including Germany, will participate in the meeting. “Why cannot Japan do so? The government should change its attitude,” said Mr. Mimaki.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 77, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, drooped his shoulders in disappointment and said, “If the Japanese government really wants to abolish nuclear weapons, participation in the meeting is crucial. They should show their will not only in words but in actions.” He said that he would continue a petition drive tenaciously calling on the government to participate in the meeting.
Sueichi Kido, 82, secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, will visit Austria timed for the conference. Referring to the Japanese government’s stance that it will serve as a bridge between the nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states, Mr. Kido said, “The conference will be a perfect opportunity for Japan to serve as a bridge. There is a contradiction.” He showed his frustration, saying, “The influence of the nation that experienced nuclear attacks during the war will be great. If Japan participates, it will be able to change the trend of the world’s opinion.”
(Originally published on June 19, 2022）
