Japan’s Nuclear Dilemma. A challenge in today's changing political climate.

Japan has remained a relatively pacifist, non-nuclear nation after its fallout following the Second World War.

They, much like South Korea took a 'soft-power 'approach to rebuild their nation w/ a 'Kawaii' cultural theme but, with a more protectionist manner to tourism and, a massive industrial investment. (the rise of Japanese tech manufacturing and car building ).

The US was part of this rebuilding process there, though faced bias backlash for its choice to do so within US public opinion. ( The McCarthyism red-scare era ).

(Kawaii, origin: Japanese: かわいい or 可愛い; 'lovely', 'loveable', 'cute', or 'adorable') is the culture of cuteness in Japan.

It can refer to items, humans, and non-humans that are charming, vulnerable, shy, and childlike).

Public opinion in Japan has swayed more and more towards defensive action but still remains contrary to this opinion, a nuclear weapons-free country.

( it does have nuclear power plants, and this has raised concerns as well, especially after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, brought about by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, considered the most powerful to ever hit Japan).

In these days of what may be called the second Cold War and three nuclear powers sitting on its doorstep two, (India excluded)-, China and North Korea considered hostile, this may change.

Protectionist politics in the US and the World, are spreading more and more.

Many countries like Japan see holes in the previous political agreements and US Military assistance and look within to a more domestic agenda to fill this hole.

These nations see a REAL threat in many avenues from these hostile nuclear-equipped nations, both on Land and the Sea.

They feel that US influence in Asia is lacking, w/ more internal hedging on their bets with other Asian countries in their neighborhood, leading to a more 'dependant-free' national security agenda, including nuclear capabilities.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

Originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and now commonly called the Genbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome, or A-Bomb Dome, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

(The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. Through the efforts of many people, including those of the city of Hiroshima, it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.)

To Suzuka Nakamoto (BABYMETAL: leader & singer ) Hiroshima Prefectural is her home.

In her childhood school diary, she reflected on the annual 'Peace Day' and, what it meant to her.

This is an excerpt from her Student diary, some years ago.

(translation...)

Remembrance

🌸Diary 2011🌸 SG students' diary 20110806 Suzuka

Title: The day when we all think

Today is the 66th anniversary of the atomic bombing. Every year in Hiroshima we go to school, learn about war and think about peace.

This is how it's been for me ever since I was little, that's why I always thought, that the 6th of August is the day, when all people around the world think about peace.

Last year, for the first time I was spending that day in Tokyo and I was told "Eh? What was today!?".

I was surprised that for everyone it was just a common day.

I wondered: "If you wouldn't have been born in Hiroshima, you'd never think about it?" and then I thought: "It's good that Su was born in Hiroshima".

Thus, wherever I am, I don't want it to change.

Suzuka

A day of Peace and Remembrance.🙏