Komeito officials exchange views with ICAN representative

June 25 , 2026

On June 24, Komeito Chief Representative Toshiko Takeya and members of two committees—one to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons and the other for youth affairs—exchanged views with Akira Kawasaki, International Steering Committee member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). After a report from a Foreign Ministry official on the inconclusive Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’ (NPT) review conference held last month, they spoke with the ICAN representative on the prospects of more constructive results for the review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to take place later this year.

Mr. Kawasaki explained that while the outcome document of the NPT review conference in New York cited the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, the nuclear-weapon states made clear their opposition to the language, gradually attenuating its weight. He said it was precisely because the NPT process is stuck in an impasse, the Japanese government should pursue the inhumanity argument as its central position while actively involving itself in the TPNW process. He added that Tokyo could also contribute in such areas as victims assistance and environmental remediation, as well as verification of nuclear weapons dismantlement.

• Tweet

• Takeya speaks at Komeito Okinawa-hosted peace forum
• Three parties take next step toward further integration