A Call for Dissent: Asahi Shimbun, July 1st

In an article published in the Asahi Shimbun on July 1st, titled "A Call for Dissent," Keishi Saeki (Kyoto University), a prominent figure among Japanese communitarians, expressed his view that "Hosting the G7 in Hiroshima and inviting Zelensky to participate signifies a declaration of hostility towards Russia through nuclear means." In other words, it is an appeal to add the same destruction inflicted on Hiroshima1945 to Russian cities.

Considering that the United States, which approves of the atomic bombings as a means to end World War II, is behind this decision, it is only natural to interpret it in this way. It is likely that the same logic is believed to be effective in dealing with Russia.

According to Saeki, Hiroshima has been dragged down from being a symbol of peace and has now become a place for declaring a commitment to the use of nuclear weapons.

Saeki suggests that Japan's traditions may hold the key to breaking free from the military confrontation between American domination and the Russo-Chinese alliance. However, the desired outcome may be right, but the desired path differs.

We must not turn away from the challenging path of a peace plan based on transnational citizen solidarity, as there is no longer any reliance on nation-states alone.