Between October 28 and November 3, 2024, Japan welcomed a delegation of 27 young diplomats, including two United Nations staff members, for a study visit as part of the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Program. This initiative aims to enhance participants’ understanding of disarmament, non-proliferation, and the historical context surrounding nuclear issues through immersive experiences in Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki.
The Tokyo segment of the program began with a welcome dinner hosted by Hayashi Mitsuko, Ambassador and Deputy Director-General of the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Participants engaged with various divisions of the Ministry, gaining insights into Japan’s positions on disarmament and international security issues. They also visited the Daigo Fukuryu-Maru Exhibition Hall to learn about the impacts of nuclear tests.
In Hiroshima, from October 30 to November 1, participants toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and attended a poignant lecture by atomic bombing survivor Ogura Keiko. They honored the victims by offering flowers at the Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims and utilized virtual reality technology to explore Hiroshima’s history before and after the bombing. The program included lectures from experts such as Dr. Richard Sposto from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation.
The final leg of the visit took place in Nagasaki from November 1 to November 3. Participants explored the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and National Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims, where they offered flowers at the Hypocenter. They listened to survivor Tsuki Shohei share his experiences and engaged in discussions with Nakamura Keiko from Nagasaki University’s Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition.
This year’s program marks the 41st iteration of the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Program, which was initiated in 1979 to cultivate specialists in disarmament, particularly from developing countries. Since its inception, over 1,000 young diplomats have visited Japan at the expense of the Japanese government. The program is instrumental in conveying Japan’s commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation while fostering international cooperation in addressing nuclear threats.
