Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated today (August 6) that Japan maintains its Three Non-Nuclear Principles and bears the mission to continuously strive for the realization of a world without nuclear weapons as the sole war-bombaed nation.

According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Takaichi made the remarks during her address at the Atomic Bomb Victims Memorial Ceremony and Peace Memorial Ceremony held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park this morning to mark the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles—pledging not to possess, produce, or introduce nuclear weapons—have been effectively regarded as the nation's guiding policy for over half a century.

While projections have been raised that modifications could be made to the principle prohibiting the introduction of nuclear weapons following the inauguration of the Takaichi administration, which advocates for a "strong Japan," Prime Minister Takaichi mentioned her commitment to 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 tragedies experienced by Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated."

She also noted, "As confirmed at the Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the path toward a world without nuclear weapons is by no means smooth," adding that she will call 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 atomic bombs and the dangers of nuclear weapon use, Japan has not joined the TPNW—which bans the use and development of nuclear weapons—due to considerations 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 jointly by survivors and the younger generation selected through an open call for the first time, evaluating that the aspiration for peace is firmly being passed down to the next generation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a message read by UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, 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 facing a crisis."

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui also expressed strong concerns over the current geopolitical climate, where the use of nuclear weapons could potentially be tolerated, in the "Hiroshima Peace Declaration" released today.

He criticized that "the arrogant behavior of major powers defying international law fundamentally shakes world peace and stability," urging action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The city of Hiroshima announced that a record 121 countries and regions participated in today's peace memorial ceremony.

Participants observed a moment of silence together at 8:15 a.m., 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.

(Photo: Getty Images)