▲ Prime Minister Takaichi
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on the 6th that Japan maintains its "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and bears the mission, as the sole war-A-bombed nation, to continuously strive toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Takaichi made the remarks during an address at the Peace Memorial Ceremony for the Atomic Bomb Victims held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park this morning, marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, according to Kyodo News.
Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles—which state that the country will not possess, produce, or introduce nuclear weapons—have been effectively regarded as Japan's national policy for over half a century.
Although expectations have been raised that the principle prohibiting the introduction of nuclear weapons might be revised following the launch of the Takaichi administration, which advocates for a "strong Japan," Prime Minister Takaichi mentioned upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles at today's memorial service for atomic bomb victims.
She emphasized that the global security environment is becoming increasingly severe, stating, "The atomic bomb tragedies experienced by Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated."
She also noted, "As confirmed at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the path toward a world without nuclear weapons is by no means smooth," adding that she would appeal for the maintenance and strengthening of the NPT regime to lead international efforts toward realizing a nuclear-free world.
However, much like her predecessor Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister Takaichi did not mention the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) during today's ceremony.
While emphasizing the horrors of the atomic bomb and the dangers of using nuclear weapons, Japan has refrained from joining the TPNW—which bans the use and development of nuclear weapons—due to consideration for the "nuclear umbrella" of its ally, the United States.
Prime Minister Takaichi noted that the registry of atomic bomb victims enshrined at the cenotaph this year was compiled for the first time by the younger generation, selected through public recruitment, alongside atomic bomb survivors, evaluating that the aspiration for peace is solidly being passed down to the next generation.
Yet, a ripple effect has emerged as some Japanese media outlets and political circles focus on the specific expression "maintaining" (견지하고 있으며) used by Prime Minister Takaichi when referring to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
Prime Minister Takaichi stated that "Japan is maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles," which differs from the expression "while maintaining" used by previous prime ministers at the same ceremony.
Some Japanese media pointed out that while the expression "while maintaining" carries a directional implication of continuing to uphold the principles in the future, "maintaining" could be interpreted as merely describing the current state.
During meetings with atomic bomb survivors and a press conference following the ceremony, Prime Minister Takaichi repeatedly used the phrase "maintaining" regarding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
When asked at the press conference whether the Three Non-Nuclear Principles would be reexamined in connection with the revision of the three security documents, she responded, "I will refrain from making a presumptive statement about the phrasing right now. There is no change in our policy of maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles."
In response, Japanese Government Spokesperson and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a morning press conference, "As a government, we maintain the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as a policy guideline, and the pointed-out expression is based on this government stance," without clarifying whether they will strictly adhere to it moving forward.
Later, Prime Minister Takaichi visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, spending 20 minutes viewing exhibits such as clothes worn by children killed in the atomic bombing.
She subsequently met with representatives of atomic bomb survivor organizations, stating her plan to expedite screening processes for atomic-bomb-related illnesses given the aging population of survivors, and to preserve buildings and trees from that era to pass down the experiences of the tragedy.
She then visited a medical care facility for atomic bomb victims.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a message read by Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, at the Peace Memorial Ceremony, emphasized reflecting on the lessons of Hiroshima, stating, "We live in an era of deepening geopolitical divisions and growing distrust, and the norms that have prevented a nuclear catastrophe are in crisis."
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also expressed strong a sense of crisis regarding the current geopolitical situation where the use of nuclear weapons could potentially be tolerated, via the "Hiroshima Peace Declaration" issued on the same day.
He criticized that "the arrogant behavior of major powers ignoring international law fundamentally shakes world peace and stability," and urged action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The city of Hiroshima announced that a record-high number of representatives from 121 countries and regions participated in today's peace memorial ceremony.
Participants observed a moment of silence in unison at 8:15 AM, the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped.
The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, near the end of the Pacific War, and carried out another atomic attack on Nagasaki three days later on August 9.
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