Per Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those three principles are, “not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons, in line with Japan’s Peace Constitution”.
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Earlier in the week, defence minister Gen Nakatani also triggered a row when he admitted that the security legislation might allow Japan to transport nuclear weapons for an ally, though he added that the country’s non-nuclear principles ruled that out.
Nagasaki survivor Sumiteru Taniguchi, 86, lashed out at Abe’s administration for attempting to change the conservative constitution, blaming it for returning Japan to the state before the end of World War II.
Mr Taue noted the “widespread unease” about the legislation, which has passed the lower house of parliament and is now before the upper house.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents to the weekend survey opposed Kyushu Electric Power Co’s restart of a reactor at its Sendai plant in southwest Japan, set for Tuesday.
Abe, however, is in the ire of controversies because of the prime minister’s pursuance of unpopular policies on national defense and nuclear energy.
Mr Abe is a regular visitor to the shrine and his appearances often spark ire from Asian neighbours.
The anniversary comes as Japan is engaged in a public debate over the use of nuclear energy, as well as efforts to expand the role of the country’s military.
Last week, a government panel set up to advise on the wording of Abe’s war statement condemned Japan’s colonising the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945 and parts of China from 1931.
A ceremony held at Hiroshima memorial park was attended by residents of the Japanese city to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first atomic bomb dropped by a U.S. aircraft.
NHK said an original draft of Abe’s statement included the words “apology” and “aggression”. The Japanese did not believe they were militarily defeated; their culture did not allow it. They never surrendered any island fortress we assaulted, dying almost to the last man. “With this mindset I came to Nagasaki today to mark the atomic bombing“, said Takao Takahara, professor of worldwide Peace Research Institute, Meiji Gakuin University.
Nagasaki mayor Tomihisa Taue announced the city’s pacifist declaration at the memorial service, saying that Japan must uphold its commitment to renouncing the right of engaging in war.
It instantly killed over 70,000 people, mostly civilians, tens of thousands more died in the following days, weeks, and months.
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Global Zero partnered with the University of Oregon bike program and other organizations to mourn those lost in the bombing, as well as to advocate for the end of nuclear warfare. All of Japan’s more than 40 reactors are now offline for repairs or safety inspections.
