Yesterday (November 18), Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki spoke out against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's plan to revise Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
These principles—never possessing, never producing, and never allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese soil—were declared by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967. They have since been seen as a national credo for preserving peace.
Governor Yuzaki reminded everyone that Hiroshima was the first city in history to endure an atomic bomb. "Relying on nuclear weapons for security is dangerous," he said, urging the government to find a way beyond nuclear deterrence. 🕊️
Mayor Suzuki added that changing the principles would only deepen Japan's dependence on nuclear deterrence. As a long-standing national policy, it is vital to demand that the government keep its promise. ✊
This follows similar concerns raised by the governors of Okinawa and Nagasaki prefectures just a day earlier, showing a growing chorus of local voices calling for firm adherence.
Japan's 2022 national security strategy reaffirmed that "the basic policy of adhering to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles will remain unchanged in the future."
However, media reports say Prime Minister Takaichi may review the third principle—banning nuclear weapons from Japan's territory—when key security documents are updated by the end of 2026. This idea is stirring doubts and worries across the nation.
For many in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the scars of 1945 fuel hope for a nuclear-free future. Will Tokyo listen? 🌏
Reference(s):
Hiroshima, Nagasaki leaders urge adherence to non-nuclear principles
cgtn.com
