Mayors for Peace national assembly closes with decision to adopt documents for Prime Minister urging Japan to participate in TPNW Meeting
Oct. 20, 2023
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
The general assembly of Japanese member cities of Mayors for Peace (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president), held in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, ended its two-day meeting on October 19. It adopted a letter of request addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, urging the Japanese government to participate in the second meeting of State Parties to the TPNW (Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons), as an observer when held in New York in November. The letter will be delivered to the government soon.
The letter of request noted the “Hiroshima Vision” on Nuclear Disarmament issued by the Group of Seven industrialized nations, during the Summit (G7 Summit) held in Hiroshima in May, affirmed nuclear deterrence theory and pointed out, "We must face up to the fact that the theory of nuclear deterrence is broken when we take into account the reality that there are statesmen who make threats with nuclear weapons.” It also urges the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW (Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon) in addition to participating in the meeting of State Parties as an observer.
The general assembly also shared the results of a survey of 715 cities, wards, towns, and villages. About 20% said, “We don’t have any peace-related activities.” In order to boost their peace-related activities, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have confirmed they would expand their outreach to elementary, junior high, and high school students and would begin offering web-based training for municipal officials. The assembly has also decided to request the Japanese government provide necessary financial resources for peace activities by local governments.
A total of 135 people including 33 city, ward and town leaders and 52 city, ward, and town officials attended the general assembly in two days. The next meeting will be held in Musashino City, Tokyo, on January 16 and 17, 2025.
(Originally published on October 20, 2023)
The general assembly of Japanese member cities of Mayors for Peace (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president), held in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, ended its two-day meeting on October 19. It adopted a letter of request addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, urging the Japanese government to participate in the second meeting of State Parties to the TPNW (Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons), as an observer when held in New York in November. The letter will be delivered to the government soon.
The letter of request noted the “Hiroshima Vision” on Nuclear Disarmament issued by the Group of Seven industrialized nations, during the Summit (G7 Summit) held in Hiroshima in May, affirmed nuclear deterrence theory and pointed out, "We must face up to the fact that the theory of nuclear deterrence is broken when we take into account the reality that there are statesmen who make threats with nuclear weapons.” It also urges the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW (Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon) in addition to participating in the meeting of State Parties as an observer.
The general assembly also shared the results of a survey of 715 cities, wards, towns, and villages. About 20% said, “We don’t have any peace-related activities.” In order to boost their peace-related activities, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have confirmed they would expand their outreach to elementary, junior high, and high school students and would begin offering web-based training for municipal officials. The assembly has also decided to request the Japanese government provide necessary financial resources for peace activities by local governments.
A total of 135 people including 33 city, ward and town leaders and 52 city, ward, and town officials attended the general assembly in two days. The next meeting will be held in Musashino City, Tokyo, on January 16 and 17, 2025.
(Originally published on October 20, 2023)
