International Meeting
2024 World Conference against A and H Bombs
Session 2
Yasui Masakazu, Secretary General
Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)
I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all participants, from Japan and abroad in the 2024 World Conference against A & H Bombs.
This year’s World Conference is held a year before the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an important milestone toward a “world without nuclear weapons”.
Last year’s World Conference warned that “As seen in the war in Ukraine and nuclear threats, the world is facing a serious situation where the danger of the use of nuclear weapons is real and growing” and appealed, “nuclear weapons must never be used in any circumstances whatsoever and that they should be totally and completely abolished even a day sooner.”
The world is now on the brink of nuclear catastrophe, and the abolition of nuclear weapons is a task of great urgency.
Russian President Putin has repeatedly made nuclear threats, including the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, exercises with nuclear forces, and statements on the review of nuclear strategic posture, while continuing to attack and occupy parts of Ukraine.
While Israel continues to attack Gaza in Palestine, an Israeli cabinet minister has stated that the use of atomic bombs is “an option,” and a U.S. congressman has suggested the use of nuclear weapons against Gaza, justifying the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Military tension is also rising in East Asia, both “military” versus “military” and “nuclear” versus “nuclear”. North Korea has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and Japan, the U.S., and South Korea have been strengthening military rivalry through military exercises. Especially serious is the sharp increase in joint exercises with the U.S. B-52 nuclear-capable strategic bombers. 18 joint exercises have been conducted with the B-52 since December 2022, 16 with Japan and the U.S. and 2 with Japan, the U.S., and South Korea. Therefore there is a serious risk that some accident or collision would escalate to catastrophic devastation.
Under these critical circumstances, Japan Gensuikyo sent a representative to the Second NPT Prep Com, held in Geneva from July 22, to deliver the following message:
(1) Nuclear weapons offer us no safety or security, but instead it brings war, destruction, killing, and the fear of annihilation of humanity. Now is the time to listen to the voices of the Hibakusha and peoples of the world. They are calling for returning from the brink of nuclear catastrophe. The leaders of nuclear weapon states and their nuclear allies should stop threatening to use nuclear weapons in any form, abandon the scenario of nuclear weapons use, and begin negotiations for the elimination of nuclear arms.
(2) Next NPT Review Conference of 2026 should face up to the serious crisis at present and reaffirm the agreements and commitments already reached, including “no threat or use of force” in solving international conflicts, provided for by the UN Chater, the “elimination of nuclear weapons from national armaments” laid down by the first resolution of the UN General Assembly, as well as the obligation of conducting negotiations for nuclear disarmament under Article 6 of the NPT, and the “unequivocal undertaking” to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons agreed on at the 2000 NPT Review Conference. The implementation of these goals should be confirmed as obligation that all NPT states parties must undertake now.
(3) We urge all countries that have not joined the TPNW to sign and ratify the treaty towards the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki next year and the next NPT Review Conference in 2026.
Public opinion and movements hold the keys to preventing the use of nuclear weapons and opening the way to a world without nuclear weapons. In particular, the role of the movement in the A-bombed nation of Japan is decisive.
The Kishida administration continues its dependence on the U.S. nuclear strategy and massive military expansion. It is Japanese movement’s responsibility before the international community to resist and stop this trend, to break away from the policy of strengthening the military alliance in line with the U.S. and the “nuclear umbrella,” and to achieve Japan’s participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The joint statement of the Japan-U.S. Summit released on April 10 this year clearly stated the further strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance, including strengthening the framework for command and control of the U.S. military and Self Defense Forces, military cooperation with the “AUKUS” framework of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, and extended joint development and production of weapons. This is an outrageous move that would significantly change the Japan-U.S. military alliance. The joint statement also commends the G7 summit in Hiroshima last year, which declared the strengthening of “nuclear deterrence,” and called for the strengthening of extended deterrence that assumes the use of nuclear weapons.
The Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2) meeting held on July 28 concretized the agreement of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting. It took steps to create a command and control system that will allow the U.S. military and the Self Defense Forces to act as a single force, in effect, seamlessly at all stages from “peace time” to “contingency”. Furthermore, the “extended deterrence” talks, which are based on the use of U.S. nuclear weapons, have been raised to the ministerial level.
Japan Gensuikyo will never allow the conversion of the entire Japanese territory into military bases or nuclear sortie bases, which would go against the trend toward a nuclear-weapon-free world, intensify military tension in East Asia, and endanger the lives and safety of the Japanese people.
What the Japanese government should be doing now is not to expand its military to prepare for war or to be complicit in the U.S. nuclear strategy, but rather, as the UN Charter and the Japanese Constitution indicate, to make diplomatic efforts for peaceful conflict resolution, disarmament, and nuclear abolition, and to join the TPNW as a proof of such efforts.
The contradiction is deepening between on one hand, the Kishida administration, in blind subordination to the US, and the people of Japan on the other. In all opinion polls, Kishida’s approval rating is hovering around 20%, which is considered to be a sign of the end of his administration.
Japan Gensuikyo is doing its utmost to advance the national collaboration from the grassroots to bring about a major political change. Our main activity is the “National Campaign for a Nuclear-Free Japan — From 70th anniversary of the Bikini H-bomb Tragedy to 80 Years After the A-bombing (“Nuclear-Free Japan Campaign”).
The campaign started on March 1 of this year. Until the end of August 2025, the 80th year of the atomic bombings, we will convey to the people the reality of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the damage caused by the nuclear tests at Bikini and Pacific Ocean through testimonies and photo panels in all prefectures and regions, and spread signature campaign for Japan’s joining the TPNW in all communities, schools, and workplaces.
The Nuclear Free Japan Campaign has been receiving a great deal of support and understanding from various civil society organizations, individuals, and local government officials. About 1,000 sets of the “Hiroshima-Nagasaki & Bikini Disaster Exhibit Panels,” produced for the campaign, have been disseminated over the past two months and are now being displayed in the lobbies of local government buildings, junior and senior high schools, community centers, labor union conventions, and roadside service stations as part of a grass-roots effort.
Our task now is to warn the public of the danger of a nuclear catastrophe and the risk of Japan becoming a nuclear sortie base, and to expand the “Nuclear-Free Japan Campaign” as a joint effort in all local governments, communities, workplaces, and schools, and to link the expansion of the campaign to the advancement of the signature drive. So far, the number of signatures has just exceeded 3 million, according to the signature-collecting center. I would like to conclude by expressing our determination to advance the signature collection to 5 million or 10 million, toward the 80th anniversary of the A-bombing, and to ensure Japan’s participation in the TPNW.