Hidankyo Official Calls A-Bombs Devil’s Weapons in NPT Speech

New York, May 1 (Jiji Press)–Jiro Hamasumi, secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Nihon Hidankyo, delivered a speech at the 2026 review conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in New York on Friday, saying that atomic bombs are “weapons of the devil that cannot coexist with humanity.” Hamasumi, 80, was exposed to the atomic bomb that hit the western Japan city of Hiroshima while still in his mother’s womb. “No more war, no more hibakusha,” he cited a phrase from the landmark speech by then Hidankyo official Senji Yamaguchi at the 1982 U.N. special session on disarmament. “Nuclear weapons were used because we went to war,” Hamasumi stressed. “We must not wage war.” At the ongoing conference, the mayors of the atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as representatives from the namesake prefectures, also delivered speeches. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki described nuclear weapons as “absolute evil,” adding, “Their total abolition is the only path for humanity to preserve life on Earth for future generations.” He called for fulfilling obligations to “pursue negotiations on nuclear disarmament in good faith.” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui called for advancing nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation “through diplomatic efforts based on dialogue.” Hiroshima Governor Mika Yokota gave her first speech at the review conference. “It is the responsibility of all of us to reinforce the nuclear taboo, moving away from the risk of nuclear use,” Yokota stressed. “We need security policies that do not rely on nuclear deterrence,” she also said. After his speech, Hamasumi told reporters that he spoke while thinking how to make each country to face the issue with a sense of urgency. “If no agreement is made this time, the existence of the NPT will be questioned,” he said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]