Keep Politics Out of the Atomic Bomb Memorial Ceremony

This article was written on the morning of August 6 at a hotel in Hiroshima. The Peace Memorial Ceremony for the victims of the atomic bombing was held peacefully and smoothly in the city. When I first stood in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a high school student, I felt a shock as if I had been struck by lightning. I had the same feeling in Nagasaki Peace Park. 

So many civilians were killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. For me, the annual memorial ceremonies held in August are solemn and sacred occasions that recall the shock of my youth. However, this year's ceremony in Nagasaki was marred by the city government. 

Politicizing a Solemn Ceremony

The city of Hiroshima invited the Israeli ambassador to the ceremony on August 6 as in previous years, but not the Palestinian representative. Of course, this is because Palestine is not recognized as a state. 

However, the city of Nagasaki later withdrew its invitation to Israel. The mayor explained that it was out of "the concern that an unforeseen situation may arise," but emphasized that it was "not a political decision."

He further explained that the decision was made for the ceremony to proceed "peacefully and smoothly," adding that it was "a great pity" because in principle he wanted "representatives from all nations to participate." I could not believe my ears.

The City of Nagasaki said it was "to avoid risks," but today in Hiroshima there is no confusion whatsoever. There were demonstrations on August 5, but they were peaceful and orderly. The situation would have been the same in Nagasaki. Therefore, I must say that Nagasaki City's withdrawal of its invitation to Israel was a political decision.

Why politicize a ceremony that commemorates the victims of the atomic bomb? Are there people in Nagasaki City who would cause an "unforeseen situation?" I would go so far as to say that Nagasaki City's unorthodox political decision is blasphemy against the victims of the atomic bombings.

Distorted Japanese Diplomacy

What surprised me next was that, for the first time, Nagasaki City invited the Palestinian representative to Tokyo. While we respect the Nagasaki mayor's freedom of speech, he had no reason to take measures that differed from the Japanese government's foreign policy. Many members of the diplomatic corps in Tokyo were also said to have been upset by the measures taken by the City of Nagasaki. This is because Palestine is not yet included in the list of nations recognized by the Japanese government.

What I regret even more is that a Japanese city is engaging in the kind of measure that would be deemed anti-Semitic in the West. Criticizing Israel for political reasons is fine, but discriminating only against Israelites in a solemn memorial forum is an act that could be misconstrued as anti-Semitism. The City of Nagasaki may deny this, but I must say that it is too insensitive.

Insensitive Media

Finally, I am most surprised by the insensitivity of major Japanese media outlets. As of August 6, no article has mentioned the fear that Nagasaki City's decision could be misinterpreted as anti-Semitic.

In May, I wrote about the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States, which is not well known in Japan. The resurgent anti-Semitic climate should never be underestimated. Japanese share an affinity with many Americans who happen to be Jewish Americans. They have always been sensitive to discrimination against minorities. It should be remembered that the Jewish community, with its memory of the Holocaust, has been among the most sympathetic to Japan's experience of the horror of the atomic bombings.

The resurgence of anti-Semitism in the West is a dangerous sign. It would be problematic if anti-Semitism is quietly spreading in Japan as well. This time, Israel has remained silent. Perhaps this is because it has learned from a long history of discrimination that raising an objection during such an occasion would only dishonor the victims of the atomic bombings. It could also encourage the politicization of a ceremony that should be solemn. Nagasaki City's withdrawal of the invitation to the Israeli ambassador for political reasons is a mistake.

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Author: Kunihiko Miyake, Research Director, the Canon Institute for Global Studies