Tokyo International News Agency

The 'Genocide Convention' has become a major trending topic on X (formerly Twitter). The debate was sparked when Kenji Isezaki of Reiwa Shinsengumi pointed out that 'Japan is the only developed country that is not a signatory to the Genocide Convention, making it an anomaly,' warning that this status poses an international political risk in the context of discussions around nuclear weapons possession. The 'Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,' commonly known as the Genocide Convention, was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 in the aftermath of the Holocaust during World War II. It defines acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group (genocide) as a crime under international law, obligating signatory states to prevent and punish such acts. As Isezaki pointed out, Japan is the only G7 nation that has not ratified this convention. The Japanese government's primary stated reason...

Reports emerged on the 19th from multiple media outlets that a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office made an off-the-record comment suggesting "Japan should also possess nuclear weapons," causing significant ripples in the political world. In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara emphasized at a morning press conference on the same day that the government "firmly adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as its policy" and sought to calm the situation. According to reports, the remark was made by a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office responsible for national security, with some speculating it was a former high-ranking official of the Air Self-Defense Force. While there have been questions raised about the media's conduct in making an off-the-record comment public, the content of the statement itself drew sharp criticism from both ruling and opposition parties, as it could potentially shake the very foundation of Japan's secur...

A remark from a government official stating 'Japan should possess nuclear weapons' has caused a significant stir on social media. According to a news report distributed by Kyodo News, one source close to the Prime Minister's Office reportedly mentioned the necessity of possessing nuclear weapons as a personal opinion during an informal, off-the-record interview with reporters on the 18th. Following this report, '#JapanNuclearWeaponsPossession' trended on X (formerly Twitter), with a flood of posts. Discussion erupted not only over the content of the remark but also the circumstances under which an off-the-record comment was reported. While criticisms like 'Isn't this breaking off-the-record rules?' were raised, some voices defended the media's reporting stance, saying 'This is the reality.' Regarding the pros and cons of nuclear weapons possession, fierce debates are unfolding. Opponents voiced concerns one after another, such as 'It go...