Japan Press Weekly

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2025 October 29 - November 4 [PEACE]

Hibakusha protest against Trump’s order to resume nuclear weapons testing

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) on October 30 issued a comment which protests strongly against U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he ordered the U.S. Department of Defense to resume nuclear testing.

Hidankyo’s comment pointed out that the United States not only disapproves of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) but also intends to restart nuclear testing which runs counter to the nuclear disarmament obligation under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to which the United States is a party. The comment pointed out that such a move is totally unacceptable as it goes against the efforts made by countries seeking to establish a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.

The comment urged the U.S. to respond to the global call for a total ban and abolition of nuclear weapons without delay.

On the following day, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) published a statement in protest under the name of Secretary General Yasui Masakazu.

Yasui stated that amid the current tense international situation, the resumption of nuclear testing will “give spurs to the already dangerous nuclear-to-nuclear standoff as well as use of nuclear weapons.” He demanded that in light of Japan’s Constitution and public demand, the Japanese government strongly urge the U.S. to cancel its test resumption order and work in collaboration with the international community toward nuclear disarmament.

New Japan Women’s Association (Shinfujin or NJWA) President Yoneyama Junko issued a statement of protest.

The statement criticized Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae for neither protesting nor condemning President Trump’s announcement. It stated that it is outrageous that PM Takaichi plans to recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, adding that as the prime minister of Japan, she should communicate the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons to the world and take a lead in working to abolish those weapons, Takaichi’s qualification is severely called into question.