YASUI Masakazu, Secretary General
Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo)
With an aim to realize Japan's accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) made utmost effort in the latest general election to create a government which will join it, welcoming the landmark policy agreement between the Civil Alliance for Peace and Constitutionalism and the four opposition parties (Constitutional Democratic Party, Japanese Communist Party, Social Democratic Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi). The third point of the first paragraph of the agreement stated, "Aiming to achieve the Japan’s ratification of the TPNW, we will make effort for Japan's participation as an observer in the forthcoming Meeting of the States Parties."
Through publicity and signature campaigns conducted in all prefectures and localities during the electioneering, we informed the public of the policy agreement of the four opposition parties and called on them to support these parties so that a government joining the TPNW can be established. We could advance cooperation from the grassroots level and formed the basis for changing Japan in the direction of banning nuclear weapons.
Unfortunately, the result of the election allowed the government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komei Party to remain in power, but the joint struggle between citizens and the opposition parties drove them into a corner: The LDP's secretary general and several former cabinet ministers were defeated one after another in their constituencies. It demonstrated people's severe criticism towards the LDP's politics for continuing to turn its back on the TPMW.
Over 70 percent of the Japanese people want Japan to join the TPNW. Prime Minister Kishida said, “As the prime minister elected from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I will do my utmost to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.” He should prove his determination by his actions.
The NPT Review Conference will be held at the beginning of next year and is followed by the First Meeting of the States Parties to the TPNW. We express our determination to continue to strive for progress in the joint struggle between citizens and opposition parties and to enhance public support to make Japan ratify the TPNW and take the lead in the abolition of nuclear weapons by playing its role befitting an A-bombed nation.
Japan Council against A and H Bombs
Tokyo
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