Hiroshima Round Table opens: Experts from seven countries discuss nuclear abolition, seek path beyond nuclear deterrence theory
Sep. 2, 2025
by Eriko Shintani, Staff Writer
On September 1, the Hiroshima Prefectural government and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), a public-private partnership led by Hiroshima Prefecture, initiated the Hiroshima Round Table, an expert committee tasked with exploring pathways toward nuclear disarmament and arms control, at a hotel in Hiroshima City’s Naka Ward. After two days of discussions, policy recommendations for nuclear abolition will be compiled into a statement titled “Hiroshima Watch.”
Eighteen experts from Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, Australia, Russia, and Poland exchanged opinions. Except for the opening session, the meeting was held behind closed doors. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East in mind, the participants explored peacebuilding measures that are not reliant on nuclear deterrence.
In his address, Hiroshima Prefectural Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, who also serves as president of the HOPe organization, emphasized, “Amid the serious international situation, we hope to discuss directly how to transcend the theory of nuclear deterrence.” On the final day, September 2, Mr. Yuzaki will hold a press conference on the results of the meeting together with Kiichi Fujiwara, project professor at Juntendo University and chair of the Hiroshima Round Table.
Following last year’s, this is the second Hiroshima Watch statement. It will be announced on September 26 to coincide with the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, established by the United Nations.
(Originally published on September 2, 2025)
On September 1, the Hiroshima Prefectural government and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), a public-private partnership led by Hiroshima Prefecture, initiated the Hiroshima Round Table, an expert committee tasked with exploring pathways toward nuclear disarmament and arms control, at a hotel in Hiroshima City’s Naka Ward. After two days of discussions, policy recommendations for nuclear abolition will be compiled into a statement titled “Hiroshima Watch.”
Eighteen experts from Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, Australia, Russia, and Poland exchanged opinions. Except for the opening session, the meeting was held behind closed doors. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East in mind, the participants explored peacebuilding measures that are not reliant on nuclear deterrence.
In his address, Hiroshima Prefectural Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, who also serves as president of the HOPe organization, emphasized, “Amid the serious international situation, we hope to discuss directly how to transcend the theory of nuclear deterrence.” On the final day, September 2, Mr. Yuzaki will hold a press conference on the results of the meeting together with Kiichi Fujiwara, project professor at Juntendo University and chair of the Hiroshima Round Table.
Following last year’s, this is the second Hiroshima Watch statement. It will be announced on September 26 to coincide with the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, established by the United Nations.
(Originally published on September 2, 2025)
