Nagasaki Issues Alert Regarding Potential Nuclear Conflict on the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing
In the heart of Japan, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked 80 years since the devastating atomic bombings that shook the world. As the only nation to have experienced such horrors, Japan's government has pledged to lead global efforts towards a world without nuclear war and nuclear weapons.
The attacks on Japan remain the only two instances where atomic bombs have been used in wartime. By the end of 1945, an estimated 140,000 people were killed by the uranium bomb detonated over Hiroshima, with another 3,000 lost to the plutonium bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
Eighty years on, some 99,130 survivors of the two atomic bombs are still alive in Japan, with their average age exceeding 86. Survivors and their families gathered at Nagasaki Peace Park and the nearby hypocenter park hours before the official ceremony, paying tribute to the lives lost and emphasizing the importance of keeping records of the atomic bombing damages and the survivors' lifetime stories.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to uphold Japan's decades-long commitment of not possessing, producing, or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons. He reaffirmed Japan's stance, stating that the country would work to lead global efforts towards a world without nuclear war and nuclear weapons.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki warned that humanity faces an imminent "existential crisis," urging the international community to take action against nuclear weapons. He emphasized the need for nuclear disarmament and the prohibition of nuclear weapons to ensure a peaceful and secure future for generations to come.
Despite Japan's anti-nuclear stance, the country has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This is largely due to pressure from nuclear-armed states and concerns about Japan's security environment, along with its alliance with the United States, which is a nuclear-armed power. There is also speculation about Japan’s possible latent interest in maintaining a nuclear option, as it pursues some degree of militarization.
Instead, Japan emphasizes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and supports its early entry into force, seeing it as an important part of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Japan actively cooperates with the CTBTO, including hosting monitoring stations and engaging with its Executive Secretary, reflecting its commitment to nuclear test bans rather than outright nuclear weapon prohibition under the TPNW.
This stance is widely criticized by peace activists and Hiroshima survivors’ groups, who call for Japan to break from pressure and join the TPNW to honor its historical legacy and lead nuclear disarmament efforts. However, Japan currently balances its commitment to disarmament with strategic security alliances and regional defense considerations.
In a poignant gesture, twin bells from Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki rang together for the first time since the bombing on August 9, 1945. The bells, one of which had gone missing after the attack but was restored by volunteers, tolled solemnly, serving as a reminder of the past and a call for a nuclear-free future.
[1] "Japan's nuclear policy and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons." SIPRI. 2021. [2] "Japan and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty." Arms Control Association. 2020. [3] "Japan's Nuclear Policy." Council on Foreign Relations. 2021. [4] "The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons." United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. 2021.
- The Japanese government, in light of the atomic bombings, is committed to a world without nuclear war and nuclear weapons, pledging to lead global efforts in this regard, but has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
- Despite criticism from peace activists and Hiroshima survivors' groups, Japan's stance on nuclear disarmament involves balancing its commitment with strategic security alliances and regional defense considerations, prioritizing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) instead of the TPNW.
- Japan's anti-nuclear stance is influenced by factors such as opposition from nuclear-armed states, concerns about its security environment, alliance with the United States, and speculation about a possible latent interest in nuclear options for self-defense.
- The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs provides information about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to prohibit nuclear weapons worldwide and create a more peaceful future for all nations.
- Media outlets around the world reported on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with international attention focused on the importance of nuclear disarmament and the need for a peaceful, nuclear-free world.
