Nagasaki marked its 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing on Sunday, as the city's mayor denounced nuclear weapons as “absolute evil.” He specifically criticised growing support for nuclear deterrence, urging the Japanese government to uphold its three postwar non-nuclear principles. This call for peace stands in stark contrast to a renewed push by Japan’s leaders to debate nuclear weapons, challenging the nation’s long-held pacifist stance.
Japan’s constitution renounces offensive military force. Successive governments have maintained a decades-old pledge not to possess nuclear weapons, produce them, or permit their introduction into the country. That commitment now faces immense pressure. East Asian neighbours, notably China, continue to boost their military capabilities, while doubts persist about the reliability of Tokyo’s biggest security backer, the United States.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has refused to clarify whether she will maintain the stance known as the three non-nuclear principles. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called last month for a “discussion without a taboo” on the subject. In December, an unnamed senior administration official suggested in an off-the-record session that Japan should possess nuclear weapons. This remark was widely reported by major Japanese outlets, including national broadcaster NHK and Asahi Shimbun, sparking public criticism.
The Logic of Deterrence
The August 1945 assault by the United States killed more than 210,000 people, including many from the effects of radiation exposure. It remains the only time atomic weapons have been used in warfare. The thousands who died then, and the thousands who die now at Europe's borders, are both casualties of a logic that prioritises state power and 'security' through deterrence over human life. Satoshi Tanaka, 82, a campaigner who survived the 1945 attack on Hiroshima, expressed deep cynicism. “If I look at it cynically, I can’t help but think that maybe she really wants to change,” he said, referring to Japan’s anti-nuclear commitment. The country marked the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing three days ago.
Militarism Over Diplomacy
The Takaichi administration is undertaking a major update of the national defence strategy this year. This comes in the face of China’s expanding military ambitions. The prime minister has already lifted Japan’s self-imposed ban on weapons exports and expanded defence spending, while pushing to amend the constitution. These policies have drawn sharp rebukes from China, which accuses Japan of “new militarism” and Takaichi of bending to the whims of the far right. Such shifts towards militarism, whether in Asia or Europe, inevitably lead to increased border fortifications and the criminalisation of those displaced by conflict and climate chaos.
These policy changes have also unnerved survivors of the 1945 bombings. They have long helped shape Japan’s post-war pacifist political culture. Tanaka expressed frustration that current political leaders like Takaichi are focusing on military capacity at the expense of diplomacy. “There is so much talk about national security. What about building peace through diplomacy?” he asked. The focus has turned firmly towards the future of the non-nuclear principles, which date back 59 years ago to 1967. Takaichi’s supporters argue that the final clause needs to be changed to allow the United States to bring nuclear arms to Japan and ensure regional deterrence.
The Human Cost of Shifting Priorities
Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, a coalition partner of Takaichi’s government, stated the principle deserved discussion in the context of the US-Japan security alliance. “Of course, we need to work toward building a world without nuclear arms,” Yoshimura told reporters on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. He added, “As for 'not allowing them to be brought in,' I do think there is some room for discussion on that point.” After Takaichi attended the annual ceremony in Hiroshima three days ago, she sat down for a televised meeting with survivors. When pressed, Takaichi declined to offer clarity on whether she might change the country’s nuclear course. “Our nation currently adheres to the 'three non-nuclear principles,'” she said in response to a direct question from Tanaka, without discussing what she might do next. “That,” Tanaka said on Friday, “only explains the current situation. It says nothing about the future. It only worries me more. I am concerned.” As of March this year, Japan recognised just over 91,000 survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks, down from over 164,000 a decade ago. Their average age is 86.7. The voices of these survivors, who bear the direct scars of militarism, are being sidelined in favour of a dangerous return to the logic of deterrence.