Japanese Civil Society Submits Petition with Nearly 3.5 Million Signatures Urging Government to Join Nuclear Ban Treaty

In a significant demonstration of public will, Japanese civil society organizations, spearheaded by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), submitted a petition bearing nearly 3.5 million signatures to the Japanese government in November 2025. The petition urges Japan to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a legally binding international agreement aimed at the total elimination of nuclear arms.

A Call from Civil Society and Atomic Bomb Survivors

The initiative, which saw simultaneous rallies in Tokyo and Hiroshima, underscores the persistent demand from a broad coalition of groups, including Gensuikyo, Gensuikin, and the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Nihon Hidankyo, a group representing 'Hibakusha' (atomic bomb survivors) and co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, has been a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament, consistently appealing for all countries, including Japan, to join the TPNW. Their message emphasizes that 'humanity and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.'

Japan's Stance on the TPNW

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted on July 7, 2017, opened for signature on September 20, 2017, and officially entered into force on January 22, 2021. It comprehensively prohibits states parties from engaging in any activities related to nuclear weapons, including their development, testing, production, possession, use, or threat of use.

Despite being the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, Japan has consistently refrained from signing or ratifying the TPNW. The Japanese government has repeatedly voted against annual UN General Assembly resolutions that welcome the TPNW. Official statements from Japan acknowledge the TPNW as an 'important treaty' but argue that 'engagement with the nuclear-weapon states is necessary' to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. Japan's security policy heavily relies on the 'extended deterrence' or 'nuclear umbrella' provided by the United States.

Growing Domestic Pressure and International Context

The submission of this large-scale petition comes amid renewed domestic debate and international scrutiny regarding Japan's nuclear policy. Critics, including Hibakusha and various civil society organizations, have voiced strong disappointment over the government's refusal to even attend meetings of states parties to the TPNW as an observer. This stance is seen by many as a contradiction to Japan's historical experience and its stated commitment to a nuclear-free world.

The petition's submission also coincides with domestic unease over discussions, reportedly involving Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, about potentially revisiting Japan's longstanding Three Non-Nuclear Principles (non-possession, non-production, and non-introduction of nuclear weapons). These principles have been a cornerstone of Japan's post-war pacifist identity. The collective action by civil society aims to reinforce these principles and push for Japan to take a leading role in global nuclear disarmament by joining the TPNW.