Nuclear Age

Followed by the North Korean nuclear bomb test, a small minority of people advocates that Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons. But it is vanishingly improbable that such opinion become to be accepted by majority.



Japan doesn't have any nuclear weapons. Japan has been criticizing any development of nuclear weapons as a only country ever to have been struck with nuclear weapons. This stance is directed even to America which is a alliance partner of Japan, and we stick to the three nonnuclear principles, that is, we never allow to ourself to equip ourself with nuclear arms and never allow ourself to develop nuclear arms and never allow to be brought nuclear weapons into this country.



Those who advocates that Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons think we can keep peace with deterrent power. But if we don't use, we don't need to have nuclear weapons. Use of nuclear weapons will be implemented in support of the international community, therefore, when we need them absolutely, it is better that we are granted those by other country. Though I don't think such situation will be risen.



As a matter of fact, it is said that Japan can develop nuclear weapons within 6 months, at longest, within 2 years. We already have missiles which can mount nuclear warheads and ships which can launch them. Therefore, our will is the matter.



But Japanese majority will never accept atomic armament by ourself. Because an experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki pervade deeply. Even toward to confederative America, we cast a cold eye on the government (What I said here doesn't means we hate them on individual level) while we depend on American nuclear umbrella. What we should develop is more advanced missile systems which can shoot down nuclear missiles. We will do make shields and will never make swords. That's our hope.



This time, Japanese government express that it don't have notions to develop nuclear weapons absolutely. This news didn't drastically break. Because the position is be quite expected and we don't need to dispute about it. I can also explain that arguing about atomic armament is a good taboo in Japan.





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I gazed up the sky and took the photo at center of nuclear explosion in Nagasaki, August 9th 2005. The nuclear bomb exploded in the sky we look at now, 61 years ago. 74,000 civilians were killed and 75,000 people civilians injured under the explosion. Even now so many civilians including young stars suffer the aftereffects of effect of the radiation. People of Ngasaki do earnestly hope Nagasaki will become the last atomic bomb site in the world for ever. I do hope international climate for peace consolidate the peace.