February 28-March 2, 2026

At the main rally of the “March 1 Bikini Day” events in Shizuoka’s Yaizu City, participants protested against the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Co-representative of the World Conference against A and H Bombs Steering Committee Takakusaki Hiroshi fiercely accused the U.S. and Israel of launching a preemptive attack against Iran on the previous day. He stated that the two countries should stop their military operations against Iran immediately, and demanded that the Japanese government lodge a protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes across Iran. He stressed that the era of “might makes right” is drawing to an end and said, “Now is the time for Japan to participate in the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and seek peace based on the Constitution.”

Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) Secretary General Hamazumi Jiro in his speech expressed a strong protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, stating, “The war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution is needed more than ever in this nuclear age.”

Appearing in a special program for the rally, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councillors Kira Yoshiko condemned the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and said that to conduct preemptive attacks is not allowed under any circumstances.

The Bikini Day main rally with the in-person and online participation of 1,700 people adopted an appeal stressing the need to increase the movement calling on Japan to join in the TPNW together with A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and nuclear victims.

Prior to the rally, a memorial service took place at the tomb of the late Kuboyama Aikichi, the chief radio operator of the fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon #5). Participants raised voices of protest against the military action by the U.S. and Israel.

On March 1, 1954, the United States conducted H-bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Marshall islanders and many Japanese fishing boats, including the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, were exposed to radiation fallout from the test explosions. Calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, the Bikini Day events have been organized annually.

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As part of the annual Bikini Day events, the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) hosted an international forum and a national rally on February 27 and February 28.

At the international forum, Gensuikyo representative director Takakusaki Hiroshi delivered a speech on behalf of the organizers, saying, “Let us discuss with world leaders and exchange our experiences in grassroots activities in order to prevent nuclear armed-states from establishing an ‘order by force’.”

At the Gensuikyo-hosted national rally, participants resolved to propel the movement for a world without nuclear weapons forward in the run-up to the 2026 NPT Review Conference slated to be held from April 27 to May 22 in NYC.