Japanese survivors of the 1945 atomic bomb expressed their deep concern today that the world is approaching the danger of nuclear war, following the expiration of the last agreement between the United States and Russia for controlling nuclear weapons. The New START treaty ceased to be in effect today, as American President Donald Trump did not proceed with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend it for one year.
Terumi Tanaka, co-president of the Nihon Hidankyo organization, which represents survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, stated that the international community has not realized the magnitude and seriousness of the current situation. The organization was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024.
“We are heading toward destruction”
“Given the current situation, I have the feeling that in the not-too-distant future we will actually have a nuclear war and that we are heading toward destruction,” Tanaka said during a press conference he gave with other Japanese anti-nuclear weapons activists.
At the age of 93, he stated that he worries that citizens of nuclear powers don’t think much about the existence of these weapons in their countries. “They may even consider them proof that they are a great power. This is a huge mistake,” he added. The American atomic bombs killed approximately 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki, where Tanaka lived, in August 1945.
These bombings, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in wartime, delivered the final blow to Japan, which announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, ending World War II.
Activists from around the world have warned that the end of New START’s validity could trigger a new arms race, primarily between the largest nuclear powers, and push China to strengthen its arsenal.
“Any new nuclear weapons agreement must include China”
Washington insists that any new nuclear weapons agreement must include China. However, anti-nuclear weapons activists estimate that Tokyo has not taken any effective initiative to encourage arms control in East Asia or to involve China in these efforts. “I believe that absolutely no attempt has been made to have dialogue with China,” said Hideo Asano, a member of the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
The Japanese government emphasized that it will continue “to work in close cooperation with the US” for establishing a nuclear weapons control framework. “Our country consistently believes that it is important to continue arms control and denuclearization efforts, with the close participation of the involved countries, such as the US, Russia, and China,” said Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato.
