Message from Ambassador

One year has passed since my arrival in Geneva in December 2023. The severe international security environment and the division in the international community over nuclear disarmament continue without signs of improvement. This year marks the 80^th year since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I would like to contribute to Japan's diplomatic efforts toward a “world without nuclear weapons”, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, by actively engaging in the work to convey the reality and inhumanity of nuclear weapon use to the international community and future generations.
 
Since December 2024, Japan holds the year-long presidency of the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Japan will also preside over the Conference on Disarmament from February to March. In addition to promoting disarmament diplomacy nationally, I will also make active contributions by leading discussions in these fora.
 
The resolution on the elimination of nuclear weapons that Japan has submitted annually to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly was adopted with over 150 votes in favour last year. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, will hold its final preparatory committee meeting in NY this year ahead of the next Review Conference in 2026. I will continue to call upon the international community to take concrete steps towards nuclear disarmament, such as commencing negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT) and enhancing transparency in nuclear forces.
 
2025 will be also an important year for the discussions toward rule-making for lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) and preventing an arms race in outer space, as well as at the working group to strengthen and enhance implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention. Japan will continue to actively contribute to these discussions so that our positions will be properly represented in those areas.