J Update

As the chair of the Group of Seven (G7) Hiroshima Summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that he would use the summit to pave the way to “a world without nuclear weapons.” Although the Leaders’ Communiqué   did include those specific words, the G7 leaders did not provide a way to implement of this goal. This leaves one wondering what Kishida did achieve with this high-profile international engagement. The document for nuclear disarmament, called the Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, was issued a day before the Communiqué. It unequivocally declared the indispensability of nuclear weapons in the context of nuclear deterrence. The G7 thus continue to contemplate a world where nuclear weapons still exist. Those who suffered the nuclear bombs, or the  Hibakusha , in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deeply disappointed by how ineffective Kishida had been. While underscoring the importance of the 77-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons, the Hiroshima Vision ...

For Japan’s ruling LDP and its government, G7 membership is considered precious for it gives Japan an advantage relative to other Asian nations. However, Japan is the only G7 member without any legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or self-recognition of gender identity, an embarrassment since Japan is the chair of the G7 this year. Although the LDP submitted a new non-discrimination bill to the Diet just before the opening of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, it remains unclear whether it will pass before the end of the current session on June 21. The rightwing powers in the Diet continue their efforts to derail the bill, regardless Japan’s status among developed countries. The discussion over legislation for sexual minorities has been led mainly by Japan’s opposition parties. They submitted a bill to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or self-recognition of gender identity to the Diet in 2016. The movement eventually included some of the LDP lawm...

Believing its membership in Group of Seven to be diplomatic strength to the world, the Japanese government insists on producing meaningful outcome as the chair in G7 summit meeting in Hiroshima later this month. As far as looking into the agreements in consecutive ministerial meetings, however, Japan seems to be failing in setting ambitious goals, caring about avoiding sharp opposition, or seeking too much its own interests. As its result, fundamental difference in the member countries, namely Japan and Europe, is left behind.   In the meeting in Elmau, Germany, last year, G7 ministers on climate, energy and environment agreed on emphasizing the central role of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia for achieving net zero emissions and an energy-secure future. That was only a part of small issues. But ammonia became one of the biggest points this year. Ministers’ communiqué describes that low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives such as a...