Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan's 'three non-nuclear principles' at a ceremony in Hiroshima on Thursday. The event commemorated 81 years since the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city. The pledge came during a speech at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. A minute of silence marked the exact time—8:15 a.m.—that the bomb exploded on August 6, 1945. The bomb killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the year.
Takaichi addressed hibakusha, relatives of the victims, and foreign attendees. She said: “The devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated.” She added the indescribable suffering endured by so many people must never be repeated. The prime minister added that Japan would continue to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. She said this while upholding the three non-nuclear principles.
The three principles prohibit Japan from possessing, producing, or allowing nuclear weapons in the country. Takaichi has defended them but has not ruled out a 2010 position. That position was set by former Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. It stated that in an emergency, the government could allow port calls by ships carrying nuclear weapons. Takaichi said Japan has maintained its postwar three non-nuclear principles, but fell short of expressing commitment for sticking with that policy into the future. At a press conference after the memorial ceremony, Takaichi said Japan will promote “realistic and practical” efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons, repeating the wording from her speech. She said it remains unchanged that Japan firmly upholds the three principles in the direction of its policy, but did not make an explicit pledge to maintain them. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian noted that Japanese authorities are rebuilding Japan's war machine, seeking to revise the three non-nuclear principles, and pursuing nuclear sharing with the US, even the possession of nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the context of the nuclear explosions should be remembered, alongside the lessons of Japanese militarism's aggression and expansion. Takaiichi's speech was watched closely by observers as she described Japan's three non-nuclear principles as the current practice without explicitly pledging they will remain so. Her predecessors had always done both. The distinction is not semantic, as Japan's national security documents are scheduled for revision before the end of 2026. When those documents are rewritten, Takaichi's government will decide whether to keep the current language. Her silence signals that the answer may not be yes.
The prime minister’s first attendance at the Hiroshima ceremony as head of government comes as the country prepares to update its national security guidelines later this year. Analysts and party members are watching closely to see if the three non-nuclear principles will be modified in the revised policies. This year’s ceremony comes at a time of looming speculation that Takaichi’s hawkish government, which supports the idea of nuclear deterrence, may ease Japan’s postwar three non-nuclear principles when it compiles new security and defense documents later this year. Takaichi has advocated a review of the principles for a possibility of dropping the third one — of not permitting nuclear weapons to be brought into the country. Her government is reportedly considering rethinking the three principles as it plans to revise key national security documents by the end of the year. “It’s premature to comment on the final form of the wording as we are in the middle of work to revise the documents before year-end,” Takaichi said. Japanese media, including The Japan Times and Kyodo News, reported that Takaichi avoided clearly pledging Japan will maintain non-nuclear principles, noting the global security environment is becoming increasingly severe. Experts and local assemblies across 36 prefectures have expressed concerns about potential revisions, with Hiroshima and Nagasaki local governments among those urging adherence to the principles. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui used the occasion to address the political moment without naming the prime minister. Too many world leaders still regard nuclear deterrence as a practical and legitimate tool, he said — a posture that pushes a world without nuclear weapons further away. The ceremony drew representatives from roughly 120 countries and regions. US Ambassador to Japan George Glass did not attend; Deputy Chief of Mission Aaron Snipe represented the United States. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in a written statement, described Hiroshima as "an inspiring example of resilience, renewal and hope," calling for dialogue over confrontation. Separately, the UN's senior disarmament official noted that the long-term trend toward nuclear arsenal reductions has reversed, that the norm against nuclear testing is under pressure, and that global military spending reached $2.9 trillion in 2025.