Hiroshima’s ongoing peacebuilding and beyond: how does this local initiative seek to extend to world peace?

Abstract

War-torn or post-conflict countries face challenging, complex, and varied tasks related to security, development, and justice to meet the immediate needs of state-building and peacebuilding. Hiroshima, having overcome post-war reconstruction, has remained in the peacebuilding phase by advocating world peace through the value of ‘No more Hiroshimas’. Peacebuilding studies and mainstream debates emphasising the local perspective have not, however, touched upon this historical moment, when the Hiroshima Prefectural Government enacted ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’, pursuing peacebuilding through a nuclear-free world. In this context, this article analyses how Hiroshima’s provincial government policy demonstrates ongoing peacebuilding in pursuit of world peace. Considering local-global relations, it examines how local policy connects the shared values of a nuclear-free world. Second, it shows how local-state relations highlight Japan’s peacebuilding policy, which includes security cooperation, by sharing the vision of Hiroshima as a symbol of world peace.

keywords:

• Peacebuilding
• Hiroshima
• Japan
• nuclear disarmament
• world peace

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Danielle Beswick and Paul Jackson, Conflict, Security and Development: An Introduction, 1st edn (New York: Routledge, 2011), 1–6.

2 Oliver P. Richmond and Jason Franks, Liberal Peace Transitions: Between Statebuilding and Peacebuilding (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009); Edward Newman, Roland Paris and Oliver P. Richmond, eds, New Perspectives on Liberal Peacebuilding (Tokyo: United Nations University Press, 2009).

3 Boutros Boutros-Ghali, An Agenda for Peace: Preventive Diplomacy, Peacemaking, and Peace-keeping (Report of the Secretary-General Pursuant to the Statement Adopted by the Summit Meeting of the Security Council on 31 January 1992), A/47/277-S/24111, on 17 June 1992; The United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General, A/72/707-S/2018/43, on 18 January 2018.

4 ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan Formulation Committee, ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan (2011), 4, <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/48455.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

5 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, The Guideline for the Advancement of ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan (2012), 1–6, <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/guideline01.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

6 Michael D. Gordin and G. John Ikenberry, eds, The Age of Hiroshima (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2020).

7 Richmond and Franks, 204–14.

8 Roger Mac Ginty and Oliver P. Richmond, ‘The Local Turn in Peace Building: A Critical Agenda for Peace’, Third World Quarterly 34, no.5 (2013), 763.

9 Boutros-Ghali.

10 James K. Boyce, ‘Aid Conditionality as a Tool for Peacebuilding: Opportunities and Constraints’, Development and Change 33, no.5 (2002), 1025.

11 Hideaki Shinoda, ‘Peace-building and State-building from the Perspective of the Historical Development of International Society’, International Relations of the Asia-Pacific 18, no.1 (2018), 26.

12 Shinoda, ‘Peace-building and State-building’, 27.

13 Hideaki Shinoda, ‘Post-war Reconstruction of Hiroshima as a Case of Peacebuilding’, IPSHU English Research Report Series 22 (2008), 2–24.

14 Ibid., 21–2.

15 Ibid., 22.

16 Lam Peng Er, Japan’s Peace-building Diplomacy in Asia: Seeking a More Active Political Role, 1st edn (New York: Routledge, 2009).

17 Yuji Uesugi et al., eds, All Japan towards the World Peace: New Approaches to Peacebuilding, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (Tokyo: Naigai Publishers, 2014), in Japanese.

18 Tadashi Iwami, ‘Understanding Japan’s Peacebuilding in Concept and Practice’, East Asia, 33 (2016), 111–32; Tadashi Iwami, ‘Peacebuilding in Japan’s Foreign Policy’, in Routledge Handbook of Japanese Foreign Policy, edited by Mary McCarthy (New York: Routledge, 2018), 216–31; Tadashi Iwami, ‘Shinzo Abe’s Security Legislation Reform and Peacebuilding in Mindanao’, The Pacific Review, 31, no. 5 (2018), 617–34.

19 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, ‘The Demographic Trend (as of 1 May 2021) [Fact Sheet]’, in Japanese, <https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/21/jinkougeppojinkousuiisaisin.html> [accessed 1 June 2021].

20 The City of Hiroshima, ‘Peace Memorial Ceremony (Article ID: 0000115509 updated on 19 February 2020)’, The City of Hiroshima, <https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/english/115509.html> [accessed 12 March 2022].

21 ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan Joint Project Executive Committee, Hiroshima’s Path to Reconstruction [Brochure], The Hiroshima Prefectural Government (2015), 36, <https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/188742.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

22 National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA) and the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, From Remembrance to Reconstruction: Post-conflict Reconstruction and Revitalisation as Agendas for Local Governments (NIRA Research Report, No.20020020) (2002), in Japanese.

23 Ibid., 7.

24 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Hiroshima Peace Contribution Plan Report (2003), 1–57, in Japanese, <https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/9631.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

25 Ibid., 2.

26 Ibid., i.

27 Ibid., ii.

28 Ibid., iii.

29 Ibid., 9.

30 Ibid., 3.

31 R. Oshiba, K. Fujiwara, and T. Yamada, eds, Building Peace (Tokyo: Yuhikaku Books, 2006), in Japanese.

32 Hiroshima House, ‘Hiroshima House Cambodia’, Hiroshima House, in Japanese, <https://hiroshimahouse.com/> [accessed 12 March 2022].

33 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Hiroshima Peace Contribution Plan, 3–4.

34 ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan Formulation Committee.

35 Ibid., 16–17.

36 Ibid., 4.

37 Ibid.

38 Ibid.

39 Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Guideline, 1.

40 Ibid.

41 Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Hiroshima Peace Contribution Plan, 8–11.

42 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, ‘Hiroshima Global Peace’ Plan: Action Plan (FY2019 to 2021) (2019), <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/HiroshimaforGlobalPeace-Plan01.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

43 ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan Joint Project Executive Committee, Learning from Hiroshima’s Reconstruction Experience: Reborn from the Ashes (2014), <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/189227.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

44 Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Hiroshima Report: Evaluation of Achievement in Nuclear Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security (2010-2012) (FY 2012 Research Project Commissioned by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government) (2013), <https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/100817.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

45 Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology [CDAST], ed., Hiroshima Report 2021: Evaluation of Achievement in Nuclear Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security in 2020, Hiroshima Prefecture (2020), 161, <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/HR2021-E.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

46 The United Nations, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, A/CONF.229/2017/8, on 7 July 2017.

47 The White House, ‘Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Abe of Japan at Hiroshima Peace Memorial on 27 May 2016’, Office of the Press Secretary (2016), <https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/05/27/remarks-president-obama-and-prime-minister-abe-japan-hiroshima-peace> [accessed 12 March 2022].

48 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, ‘Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2019 Is Starting!’, The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/ican/> [accessed 12 March 2022].

49 Ibid.

50 Iwami, ‘Peacebuilding’, 219.

51 Boutros-Ghali.

52 Yoriko Kawaguchi, ‘Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on Her Upcoming Visit to Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran (on 25 April 2002)’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, <https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/fmv0204/speech.html> [accessed 12 March 2022].

53 Junichiro Koizumi, ‘Speech by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Japan and Australia toward a Creative Partnership at the Asia Society Dinner (on 1 May 2002)’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, <https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/pmv0204/speech.html> [accessed 12 March 2022].

54 Iwami, ‘Peacebuilding’, 218.

55 Advisory Group on International Cooperation for Peace, Report of the Advisory Group on International Cooperation for Peace (2002), in Japanese, <https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/3531369> [accessed 29 October 2022].

56 Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Hiroshima Peace Contribution Plan, 10.

57 Ibid., 48.

58 Taro Aso, ‘A School to Build Peace Builder, Keynote Speech by Mr Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on the Occasion of the MOFA Japan’, United Nations University (UNU) seminar on 29 August 2006, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, <https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/pko/seminar0608-s.html> [accessed 12 March 2022].

59 Ibid.

60 ‘Hiroshima for Global Peace’ Plan Formulation Committee, 4.

61 Hiroshima Peace Builders’ Center, Report of Program Activities in Japanese Fiscal Year 2020 (2021), <https://peacebuilderscenter.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ENG_Report-of-Program-Activities-JFY2020.pdf> [accessed 12 March 2022].

62 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Diplomatic Bluebook 2020 (2020), 21, <https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/pp/page22e_000932.html> [accessed 12 March 2022].

63 Iwami, ‘Peacebuilding’, 228.

64 The Hiroshima Prefectural Government, The Guideline, 1.

65 Hidehiko Yuzaki, ‘The Letter from Governor of Hiroshima about the Postponement of NPT Review Conference’, dated on 30 April 2020, Hiroshima for Global Peace, <https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/npt20200430/letter/> [accessed 12 March 2022].

66 The United Nations, Joint Courses of Action and Future-Oriented Dialogue Towards a World Without Nuclear Weapons, A/RES/75/71, on 16 December 2020.

67 Fumio Kishida, ‘Keynote Address of the Prime Minister Kishida at IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 (on 10 June 2022)’, Japan’s Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, <https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100356160.pdf> [accessed 4 October 2022].

68 Ibid., 9.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tatsuo Yamane

Tatsuo Yamane is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, at Hiroshima University. His main research interest is war and conflict, and peacebuilding in International Relations. His previous positions include a Special Assistant (Political Affairs) at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, Visiting Researcher at the Department of Political and Economic Studies at the University of Helsinki, and Visiting Professor at the School of Social Innovation of Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand.