June 20, 2026

Three Japanese anti-nuclear organizations jointly submitted 224,648 signatures (bringing the cumulative total to 3,673,660) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 19, urging the Japanese government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The three organizations are the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), and the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin).

At a gathering held at the Lower House Members’ Office Building, House of Representatives member Hatano Kimie and House of Councillors member Kira Yoshiko, both of the Japanese Communist Party, participated with Kira in addressing the gathering.

Lawmakers from the Democratic Party for the People, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the “Komeito” party, the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Centrist Reform Alliance also gave speeches in solidarity.

Tanaka Shigemitsu, a Nihon Hidankyo representative, said, “70% of the general public supports ratifying the N-ban treaty. I hope Japan will at the very least participate as an observer and listen to and understand why the world is working to eliminate nuclear weapons.”