Hiroshima Report 2024Column 3 Evaluation of the Hiroshima Summit and Its Significance
Kengo Oishi
Evaluation and Significance of the G7 Hiroshima Summit
Amidst the increasingly distressing international environment surrounding nuclear weapons, including concerns about the growing risk of their use, it is profoundly significant that the G7 Leaders were able to gather at the Hiroshima Summit held last year in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima. There, the G7 leaders of the participating countries were able to observe the tangible impact of the atomic bombings and to release the “G7 Leaders Hiroshima Vision for Nuclear Disarmament,” a commitment to realize a world without nuclear weapons. We believe this document is of tremendous significance, and once again, we would like to express our utmost respect for the efforts of all those involved.
All of the messages written by the heads of state who visited the museum directed their thoughts to the Hibakusha and pledged to strive for a “world without nuclear weapons.” We are confident that this visit to the A-bombed city deeply engraved the horrific nature of atomic bombing and the inhumanity of nuclear weapons in the hearts of these leaders.
However, while the Hiroshima Vision reaffirms the January 2022 joint statement by the five nuclear-weapon states that “nuclear war must never be waged,” it also clearly states that “nuclear weapons serve a defensive purpose,” thereby affirming nuclear deterrence.
Although this statement is a reflection of the current grave security environment in the international community, the other A-bombed city of Nagasaki has strongly urged that all countries, not just the G7 nations, take concrete actions toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons based on the Hiroshima Vision.
Role as an A-bombed Prefecture (The Legacy of Atomic Bombing)
Japan is the only country to have ever experienced the horrors of atomic bombing and the aftermath of exposure. As a result, its people are united in the recognition that all nuclear weapons must be eliminated, due to their inhumane nature.
However, the time will surely come in the not-too-distant future when the Hibakusha who have been calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons will no longer be with us. Therefore, we believe that it is an important mission of the A-bombed cities to pass on the reality of the atomic bombings to the younger generation and to continue conveying it to the world.
This year, a study tour to Hiroshima and Nagasaki is planned by future leaders of both nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon states as part of the training program of the Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons established by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
This is an excellent opportunity for many young people around the world, who will play a leadership role in the next generation, to experience the reality of the atomic bombings and deepen their understanding of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons.
Through this project, we hope to form a global network of young leaders working towards nuclear disarmament and to offer a platform for a wide variety of discussions on nuclear disarmament in the future.
The Efforts and Future Aspirations of Nagasaki Prefecture
As the movement toward nuclear disarmament stalls, we believe that it will become increasingly important to build momentum for the abolition of nuclear weapons in civil society.
The year before last, in cooperation with Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture began working to include the elimination of nuclear weapons as one of the goals of the next SDGs. Just as with climate change and similar issues, the goal is to have everyone think about nuclear weapons and their impact on the future existence of humankind, and to perceive this issue as a matter of personal concern.
We look forward to the power of civil society to pursue the abolition of nuclear weapons, creating a great ripple effect that will move nations.
As the governor of a prefecture once subjected to atomic bombing, I will continue to work toward the expeditious abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace, in close cooperation with Hiroshima Prefecture and other stakeholder organizations.
Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture
