Split Japan antinuke groups, Hidankyo unite for 80th A-bomb anniv.
The statement by the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs, known as Gensuikin, and the Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, known as Gensuikyo, was also cosigned by Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading group of atomic bomb survivors and the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
"I truly hope that this (collaboration) will become a turning point where Japan's movement can grow into a much larger one and expand to the world," Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, said at a joint press conference held by the three groups in Tokyo.
With the risk of nuclear weapons use rising globally, the three groups stressed that survivor testimonies remain one of the most powerful deterrents against the use of such weapons in war.
Building on Hidankyo's Nobel Peace Prize recognition, the statement also urged the Japanese government to "break free" from the U.S. nuclear umbrella, and swiftly sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
"Despite atomic bomb survivors capturing the world's attention, the risk of nuclear weapon use continues to rise, making the role of Japan's antinuclear movement more critical than ever," the statement said, while criticizing the Japanese government's refusal to join the treaty as "eroding international trust."
Japan's antinuclear movement began in 1954 following the Bikini Atoll incident, when a Japanese fishing boat was exposed to radiation from a U.S. nuclear weapon test. The first World Conference against A & H Bombs was held in Hiroshima in 1955.
The movement later split in the 1960s over political differences, with Gensuikyo aligning with the Japanese Communist Party, which tolerated Soviet nuclear testing, and Gensuikin with the former Socialist Party and and trade unions, which opposed all nuclear testing regardless of country.
While the world conference was held jointly from 1977 to 1985, Gensuikyo and Gensuikin have in recent years hosted separate events each summer in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
4 hours ago
- The Mainichi
US auto tariffs on Japan may not be cut swiftly to 15%: negotiator
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan may not see U.S. tariffs on cars lowered swiftly to 15 percent, despite the government calling on the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump to apply the new rate from Friday, the top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa indicated Thursday. "It may take time," Akazawa said, after Japan and the United States struck a trade deal last week that will set tariffs on Japanese cars and other products at 15 percent.
Asahi Shimbun
6 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Unification Church land seized for donation refunds
Lawyers supporting former followers of the former Unification Church speak at a news conference in Tokyo on July 30. (Saori Kuroda) A Tokyo court has approved the provisional seizing of land housing the former Unification Church's Japanese headquarters, a key step toward allowing former followers to reclaim large donations made to the religious group. A legal team that supports victims of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification's fund-raising tactics announced the development at a news conference on July 30. The Tokyo District Court issued the ruling on July 18 in response to a request by 10 women in their 50s to 80s who are former members of the religious organization. The women claim to have collectively lost 227 million yen ($1.52 million) to the former Unification Church, through what they describe as exploitative donation extraction practices. The court order prevents the organization from selling its property in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, effectively freezing the asset while legal proceedings are ongoing. However, activities at the headquarters may continue as usual. The land, located in the upscale Shoto district, is estimated to have roughly the same value as what the 10 women are seeking in damages. The women's legal team warned of a growing risk that the group could hide or transfer assets, since the government-ordered dissolution of the church could be finalized as early as this year. 'Given the high risk of asset concealment, securing the land where the headquarters stands—a symbol of the organization—is highly significant,' lead attorney Susumu Murakoshi said at the news conference. The seizure order is part of a broader legal campaign. Since 2023, the legal team has been engaged in collective negotiations and mediation with the church, involving roughly 200 victims and total compensation claims amounting to 6 billion yen. The Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order against the religious group in March, citing its alleged harm to public welfare. The case is currently under review at the Tokyo High Court. If the dissolution order is upheld, the group could lose its legal status as a religious organization and its ability to retain property. This raises concerns that the group may try to move its assets to affiliated entities beforehand. The church has expressed regret over the court's provisional seizure order, arguing that it has been sincerely cooperating in mediation talks. Church President Tomihiro Tanaka said the organization will consider accepting the seizure or depositing a court-designated amount to avoid it. The church, long known for its manipulative financial practices, came under renewed scrutiny following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had political ties to the group. The suspected killer claimed that his family was financially ruined by the church, which his mother, a devoted follower, made major donations to.
Asahi Shimbun
6 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Justice minister voices concerns over illegal Turkish residents
Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki with Oguzhan Ertugrul, the Turkish ambassador to Japan, on July 30 (Yuki Nikaido) Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki expressed 'grave concern' over illegal Turkish residents in Japan and called on the country's ambassador to help resolve the matter. During a meeting at the Justice Ministry on July 30, Suzuki told Ambassador Oguzhan Ertugrul that the number of Turkish overstayers relative to legal residents is high compared with other nationalities. While acknowledging historically friendly relations between Japan and Turkey, Suzuki requested help in addressing the issue, saying, 'We are taking strict measures against illegal residency in response to growing public anxiety.' Ertugrul said Turkey has been encouraging its citizens already in or planning to stay in Japan to adhere to Japanese laws and social customs. It is highly unusual for a justice minister to directly raise immigration and residency management issues with the ambassador of a specific country and make the exchange public. The meeting was requested by the Turkish Embassy as part of a courtesy call by Ertugrul, who took office at the end of last year, according to the ministry. It was originally scheduled for March. Only the beginning of the meeting was open to the media. There were about 7,700 legal Turkish residents in Japan as of the end of December, according to the Justice Ministry. In addition, 1,372 Turkish nationals were illegally staying in the country as of Jan. 1, making Turkey the country with the 10th largest number of overstayers. With a ratio of roughly one overstayer against five legal residents, Turkey tops the list of the 10 countries and regions with the largest numbers of overstayers, ministry officials said. Thailand, which had the second largest number of overstayers, had a similar ratio, with 11,337 overstayers against about 65,400 legal residents. Suzuki announced in May that Japan would not tolerate overstayers by implementing a 'zero illegal residents' program. The plan calls for strict pre-entry screening, accelerated refugee recognition procedures and deportation of individuals applying for refugee status three or more times. Those with serious criminal records also face deportation. Speaking at the Japan National Press Club on July 30, Suzuki said the issues concerning refugees and immigrants could lead to social division and political turmoil in Japan, as has been the case in Europe. 'In the Upper House election, debates over foreigners received significant attention and unverified information spread over social media and elsewhere, raising public anxiety,' he said. Suzuki said Japan must promote a free and open society, given its shrinking population. 'If the public feels anxiety or unfairness, we cannot gain their support,' he said, emphasizing the importance of realizing a society where Japanese live in 'orderly coexistence' with foreigners, a goal advocated by the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. In a development concerning Turkish residents in Japan, Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono suggested on July 28 that the central government temporarily suspend the mutual visa waiver agreement between Japan and Turkey. Kurds with Turkish nationality, many of whom are seeking refugee status, have formed large communities in and around the cities of Kawaguchi and Warabi in the prefecture. Ono said prefectural residents have expressed concerns about the large number of Turkish nationals repeatedly applying for refugee status. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told The Asahi Shimbun on July 30 that the government is enhancing dialogue and cooperation with Turkey to prevent crimes and address concerns over immigration and residency management. He said suspending the mutual visa waiver agreement will have a negative impact on relations with Turkey, in politics, economy, culture, tourism and other areas, by stalling corporate activities and slowing people-to-people exchanges. 'We do not believe the situation warrants immediate suspension,' Iwaya said. 'We will continue to engage in thorough discussions with Turkey.' Kurds of Turkish nationality have settled in Saitama Prefecture since around 1990, and the current population is estimated at several thousand. Denied refugee status, many Kurds have been provisionally released from detention at immigration facilities. Since around 2023, discriminatory and prejudiced rhetoric against Kurds in Japan has rapidly spread, particularly on social media. (This article was written by Yuki Nikaido, Azusa Kato and Akira Nemoto in Istanbul.)
