Japanese A-bomb survivors worry Zelenskyy's G7 visit overshadows nuclear disarmament message

Yuta Takahashi, a Hiroshima-born activist, believes that Zelenskyy’s visit threatens to send a message "that justifies the need for nuclear deterrence in order to save Ukraine from becoming another Hiroshima,”

Well, can it really be denied? I wish it were not true but even madmen with nukes or any kind of overwhelming force will think twice before invading a nuclear-armed nation.

Ha! A "place loving city." What exactly makes this city any different than Tokyo, Yokohama, etc in terms of "peace loving?"

It only makes us feel that Hiroshima was merely used by nuclear states to send a peace message.

Sounds pretty obvious. I don't see the problem on that.

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani …

Doesn’t Zelenskyy desire peace for his people?

It was a long time ago. Get over it!

This is a war between Russia and the West. Who started it is irrelevant

This was an invasion. Who invaded is relevant.

Best use the word ‘invasion’ to clarify what happened here.

Ukraine is fighting for its very life right now, so it’s not the right time to worry about Zelensky being in the spotlight for too long.

well they have missed the point .all meeting was about new antirussian and antichinese sanctions,guy from Kiev was just a piece of folklore for the end.some money begging clown to join photo session.

they have no idea to talk about any nuclear disarmament whatsoever.if they wanted to do so they needed to invite China and Russia since they have nuclear warheads too.

@zoroto

the West supplies the weapons,

Oh, really? Iran is a major supplier of drones to Russia. China agreed to provide Moscow with lethal aid but is trying to keep shipments secret. Ukraine officials are finding Chinese made components in the wreckage of missiles and shells.  North Korea and Russia are working on a food for arms deal.

This is a war between Russia and the West. 

It clearly is not. LOL.

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani

What the heck does that mean??

well they have missed the point .all meeting was about new antirussian and antichinese sanctions,guy from Kiev was just a piece of folklore for the end.some money begging clown to join photo session.

That "money begging clown" can visit most of the world without getting arrested for war crimes.

Pathetic. Japan managed to wreak havoc without nuclear weapons, and Ukrainian cities are being pummeled into dust without them as well.

Also, Ms. Takahashi might do well to look into the Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave all nuclear weapons on its soil to Russia with assurances that Russia would never attack it. Look how well that's gone over. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum

Nuclear Disarmament now more impossible than ever, countries need deterrence. It's why China's busy massively expanding its nuclear capabilities in order to eliminate this idea of pre-emptive first strike.

Good news? Mutal deterrence has worked well for India and Pakistan thus far, hardly any more hostilities. NK's not too worried about being invaded these days either.

Phew! For a minute I thought people might think it wasn't all about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings! But, these people are here to remind us what coming and meeting in Japan is TRULY all about -- THEM. Zelenskyy's coming to Japan DID take the focus off them, and rightly so! Hiroshima, being the venue, can be used as a reference and a launch pad to talk about peace, but that is all. It's not even the anniversary of the bombings but much of Japan wanted this ENTIRE meeting to be about Japan as a victim. Zelenskyy, thankfully, put a cork in it.

theloniusToday  08:44 am JST

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani

What the heck does that mean??

Ukraine focused solely on expansion US & NATO direct military support, especially once Biden came into power.

Never any direct diplomatic effort to achieve a peaceful off-ramp with Russia, only military escalation, all these years since coming into power back in 2014 - long time.

Their message is ignored and for one very important reason. Nuclear weapons work too well. The US, Russia, France, UK, China and the Zionists will never give up their nukes.

The weaker countries will want them as they prevent the big powers from attacking them.

Simple logic, not good but that's how the world goes around.

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani

What the heck does that mean??

Granma couldnt accept a foreigner coming straight out of a current war-zone visiting her clean "peace-loving" city.

“No one can make you a victim but you. we become victims not because of what happens to us but when we choose to hold on to our victimization."....A mentor at college quoting Eger to me.

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani, an activist whose parents survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing in 1945.

What is so dispiriting is Etsuko Nakatani callousness in slamming the door shut in Zelenskyy’s face.

Zelenskyy’s a man of peace, his country devastated through a invasion by a depot tyrant, his people hanging on for dear life, being forced plead for help being told his visit to a G7 summit condemned as not appropriate for Hiroshima.

Etsuko Nakatani you should hang your head in shame. I don't know how you can call yourself an activist.

But it has also worried atomic bomb survivors who said the hig"h-profile visit overshadowed a rare chance to push world leaders to focus on nuclear abolishment.

Perhaps as a start, pushing your own leader Kishida and govt. to stop refusing and sign Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty might be good idea. Not voting LDP ( gulp, unthinkable) at next election could be a start to sharpen their " focus".

They should be more concerned about their own government not signing the Nonproliferation Treaty. Your own government doesn't even support your cause.

How egoistical of them: "He's stealing our spotlight!".

Of course they should worry. Kishida is all for nukes.

Well the G7 was hosted in Hiroshima for a reason.

and it certainly wasnt to spotlight Zelensky, the leader of a non G7 nation.

But thats what happened, everything about him and his wants and needs.

so I can understand why the survivors are upset.

What choice/options did Zelenskyy have?

All the propaganda, Ukraine infrastructure after 15 months of war has left Ukraine gutted and laid waste.

Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682

Etsuko Nakatani, Yuta Takahashi appear devoid of empathy.

Putin has on countless occasions threated the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

Holding Ukraine and the free world hostage.

Etsuko Nakatani, Yuta Takahashi activism, there demeanor attitude completely runs against the suffering both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, its people suffered.

Etsuko Nakatani, Yuta Takahashi should be welcoming Zelenskyy, not turning there backs with indifference.

Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors and activists just want as many Americans as possible to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to understand the extent of the damage and destruction an atomic bomb can cause and instantly at that; they expect no words of apology but a commitment from all sides not to use nuclear arsenal in a war.

The total abolition of nuclear weapons is their ultimate goal. But then is a war without using nuclear arsenal OK and permissible? Of course, not. One must know that anti-war sentiments permeate all their anti-nuke movement.

despite holding at Hiroshima where wish nuclear weapons abolishment or peaceful world without war, Summit agreed expansion of military assistance or virtually admitting nuclear weapons.

Consents that symbolize Summit at Hiroshima was nothing.

7 "leaders" seemed to visit Hiroshima atomic bomb museum but its experience was never reflected to something agreements.

holding at Hiroshima was worthless.

“Zelenskyy’s visit is not appropriate for Hiroshima, which is a peace-loving city,” said Etsuko Nakatani

What the heck does that mean??

It means she didn't want Zelenskyy stealing the limelight. I mean, come on... she seems to have had ZERO problems with the leaders of countries that possess (and one that has used) nuclear weapons, but she knew full well Zelenskyy might take the spotlight off her and others like her and they'd have to be quieter. Whenever something is hosted in Japan, that is all they want it to be about. One of the best parts of the Olympics was the IOC head saying hibakusha couldn't turn the closing ceremonies into a commemoration of the atomic bombings and no such politics would be accepted.

Hiroshima absolutely should and MUST be talked about, but at the right venues, when the focus is about such things. Hijacking the G7 and then telling a nation at war and that wishes for peace they are not welcome is sickening, and very much against what Ms. Nakatani purports to stand for.

smithinjapan, over this, I believe personally, one the most crucial G7 summits, for elements of J activists it is akin to boarding a train with only two destinations Hiroshima/Nagasaki, ignoring the journey of how such a tragedy occurred.

The historic significance of why such actions were deemed necessary to develop such a weapon of destruction. The future present day outcomes.