Photo/Illutration Attendees observe a moment of silence for the victims at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Nagasaki on Aug. 9. (Pool)

Annual ceremonies held in August in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to mark the 1945 atomic bombings of those cities are occasions to mourn the victims, recall the devastation and resolve anew to never use nuclear weapons again.

For decades, the two cities have invited a wide range of foreign participants to share in their thoughts and sentiments. The U.S. ambassador to Japan, representing the country that dropped the bombs, has been attending these ceremonies for over a decade.

However, the envoys of six leading Western countries, including the United States and Britain, as well as the European Union, were absent from the Aug. 9 ceremony in Nagasaki.

This disheartening diplomatic gesture has seriously undermined the years of efforts to raise global engagement and dedication to the cause and lacks a convincing rationale.

The ambassadors said their absence was in protest over Nagasaki city’s decision not to invite Israel. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki explained that the decision was made to ensure the ceremony could proceed smoothly and solemnly, based on consideration of the potential consequences of the Israeli envoy’s presence, stressing that it was not for political reasons, similar to the non-invitation of Russia and Belarus.

Decisions on who to invite to the ceremony are essentially up to the host city. However, the United States and Britain reacted negatively to Nagasaki’s decision, claiming that equating Israel with Russia could lead to misunderstandings.

Indeed, there is a critical difference in the circumstances in which Israel and Russia started their wars. While Israel started fighting after a surprise and brutal attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas, Russia invaded Ukraine unprovoked and unilaterally. But the grim fact is that Israel’s reprisals against Hamas in Gaza have caused massive civilian casualties, and this reality cannot be overlooked.

Nevertheless, while the Group of Seven countries condemn Russia, their response to Israel’s ruthless military actions with little attention to humanitarian concerns, remains tepid. By not attending the Nagasaki ceremony, the American and British envoys brought this ethical “double standard” to the A-bomb arena.

There are also questions about the Japanese government’s handling of the matter.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who hosted the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima last year, encouraged world leaders to visit the atomic-bombed cities.

The Nagasaki municipal government took time and care to avoid political or diplomatic repercussions over its decision, including sending a letter in advance to Israel. During this period, what efforts did the central government make to forestall an international controversy?

There are various opinions about the issue in the atomic-bombed cities. Hiroshima invited the Israeli ambassador to its ceremony on Aug. 6, based on its policy of seeking the presence of all states recognized by the government, despite requests from survivors’ groups to exclude Israel.

As for Nagasaki’s decision, some people say all countries, including those in conflict, should be invited to highlight the ceremony’s message of peace.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been advocating for nuclear disarmament as a universal value. The international reactions to Nagasaki’s decision have unintentionally underscored the difficulty in sharing this message amidst global divisions.

It is crucial for all Japanese citizens to consider how to spread the message against nuclear arms to the world from the only country affected by wartime atomic bombings, not just leaving the mission to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 10

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