A chance to commemorate A-bomb victims

The leader of the only country to have used nuclear weapons will pay tribute to the memory of the victims in Hiroshima and call for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Its significance cannot be overemphasised.
Obama announced in Prague in 2009 that the United States would pursue the realisation of a “world without nuclear weapons” and acknowledged a “moral obligation to act”. In Hiroshima, he is expected to send a message concerning nuclear disarmament in the future and talk of development in the Japan-US relationship since World War II.
His opinion, to be expressed after coming into direct contact with the reality of the harrowing experience of an atomic bombing, certainly will sound more convincing. As he is to leave office next January, the visit will be a part of his political legacy.
In the United States, there are strong voices that say the atomic bombing was justified, as it “brought the war to a quick end and saved many lives.” There is a risk the president’s visit to the bombed areas will be criticised as “apology diplomacy”.
Obama had such officials as US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy annually attend peace memorial ceremonies on the anniversary of the atomic bombings, thus laying the groundwork for his own visit. Japan, for its part, has responded to such US efforts through quiet diplomatic efforts behind the scenes.
Last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry also visited Hiroshima, and later indicated that he would urge Obama to visit the city. There was no strong backlash among the US public afterward. Instead, positive opinions spread centering on young people and intellectuals. The positive change in US public opinion may have prompted Obama to make his decision.
A senior US government official said Obama’s visit to Hiroshima is “to honour the memory of all innocents who were lost during the war.” The official ruled out the idea that Obama would apologise. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “I would like to make [Obama’s visit] an opportunity for both Japan and the United States to commemorate all the victims together.”
Although Japan agrees with the United States about attaching importance to “commemoration”, rather than to “apology”, it does not mean Japan has become acquiescent regarding the atomic bombing.
Based upon the lessons learned from their unfortunate history, Japan and the United States have since the end of the war cooperated broadly in such areas as politics, security and economy, and have built a future-oriented relationship. The latest move should be construed as an important milestone for both countries in bilateral reconciliation efforts.
Abe delivered a speech titled “Toward an Alliance of Hope” before the US Congress last spring, confirming the solid ties between the two countries. It is important for both countries to make Obama’s planned visit to Hiroshima, coming on the heels of Abe’s address, the first step toward ushering in a new phase of maturity for the alliance.
The road toward realising a world without nuclear weapons is rough.
Nuclear arms reduction by the United States and Russia has stagnated due to poor bilateral relations. China is moving ahead with modernising its nuclear capability, while North Korea has repeatedly conducted nuclear tests. It is hoped that with the initiative of Japan and the United States, discussions on the elimination of nuclear weapons will be revitalised.