4) The Significance of Promoting the Culture of Peace

In January 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force. It has finally become clear that nuclear weapons, a symbol of direct violence, must not be legitimized and should be totally prohibited. However, nuclear-weapon-states, as well as other nations that support the policy of nuclear deterrence, including Japan, the world’s only country to experience atomic bombings in war, have turned their backs on the treaty. Is this really the best we can do?

We must make this treaty as effective as possible. In order to do so, we have to create momentum to establish a consensus in civil society to strive for a world without nuclear weapons, and elect policymakers who take this consensus to heart, thus promoting a global shift away from the theory of nuclear deterrence.

In that process, what is innately important is for the culture of peace to take root across civil society, meaning that each and every citizen thinks about and takes action for peace in their daily lives. We believe that creating such an environment is the role of the cities, as they stand closest to their citizens.

In order to move toward realizing a truly peaceful world without nuclear weapons, it is necessary to turn the desire for creating world peace into the consensus of the international community. Promotion of the culture of peace by cities will urge policymakers around the world to strive for security policies for humanity that do not rely on nuclear weapons. As such, we believe promoting the culture of peace is a sure way to steadily urge policymakers to shift their policies.

​At current, there are countries that want to cause war and countries that possess nuclear weapons. When it comes to national security, the idea that threats are a practical way to take away the motivation for starting wars in order to avoid them or prevent a further increase in the number of nuclear weapons is gaining momentum.

In order to pursue our ideal, namely wars should not be fought and nuclear weapons should be abolished, the world should declare that there will be no more wars, and strive to abolish nuclear weapons that are an absolute evil.

We are facing a dangerous situation globally. Civil society chooses our leaders and policymakers. If the culture of peace takes root in civil society, and we can make our ideal a shared value in civil society, then policymakers who strive to avoid wars and eliminate nuclear weapons will be elected over those who seek war. These policymakers, supported by civil society, will then pursue making our ideal into a reality.

1) The Atomic Bombing and the Will of Hiroshima
2) Becoming an International Peace Culture City
3) What is the Culture of Peace?
5) Promoting the Culture of Peace is the Role of Cities
6) The Will for Peace Based on the Realities of the Atomic Bombing
7) Promotion of the Culture of Peace by Mayors for Peace
Conclusion: Importance of Citizen-Led Initiatives ​

Inquiries regarding this page

Peace Promotion Division, Citizens Affairs Bureau
Tel: 81-82-242-7831/Fax: 81-82-242-7452
E-mail: peace@city.hiroshima.lg.jp