August 6, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko on August 5, in a debate held by antinuke NGOs in Hiroshima City, discussed the theme “Questioning Japan’s choices 81 years after the atomic bombings,” with A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha), representatives from ten political parties, and disarmament experts.

Tamura criticized the Japanese government for supporting the enhancement of nuclear deterrence and turning its back on the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). She said, “Nuclear deterrence is a concept that accepts the use of nuclear arms if necessary. The government fails to understand the realistic possibility of a deterrence breakdown.” Stating that the only guarantee against nuclear war is to abolish nuclear weapons, the JCP EC chair stated, “The Japanese government should at least take part as an observer in the scheduled first TPNW review conference.”

Tamura noted that the UN General Assembly’s first resolution was to eliminate nuclear weapons, and expressed her determination by saying, “The JCP will make an all-out effort to prevent the revision of the Three Non-nuclear Principles and walk a path toward a ‘nuclear weapons-free world’ together with Hibakusha, civil society, and people throughout the world who have worked hard to establish the TPNW.”

UN Undersecretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi touched on the failure of the latest NPT Review Conference to issue a final document, and pointed out, “The significance of the first TPNW review conference has increased.” She called on the Japanese government to consider participating in the conference as an observer.

Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives Terada Minoru said, “As Japan’s national policy, the Three Non-nuclear Principles should be maintained. There are no plans to review the principles within the party.” LDP’s coalition partner “Nippon Ishin no Kai” lawmaker Saito Alex, citing China’s nuclear buildup as an example, argued that the Japan-U.S. alliance, including the U.S. nuclear deterrence, should be strengthened.

All Dietmembers present at the debate, except LDP Terada, called for Japan’s participation in the TPNW review conference as an observer.

The “Sanseito” party and the Conservative Party of Japan, both of which have Dietmembers who advocate Japan’s “nuclear sharing” and “nuclear armament,” were absent.