On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan announced the surrender of the Japanese Empire to the Allied forces, ending World War II. After 80 years since the surrender under the pressure of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, questions arise about Japan’s future between peace or a return to military and possibly nuclear paths. Emperor Naruhito expressed sincere hope that future generations understand the hardships faced during and after the war and called for continued efforts to achieve the happiness of the people, emphasizing that today’s peace and prosperity were built on decades of diligent effort. Meanwhile, nationalist currents in Japan are rising, advocating for restoring military and nuclear strength amid fears of Chinese and Russian threats and Japan’s distrust in American military protection. Japan refused to join the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty in 2021 despite possessing enough nuclear fuel to make 6,000 nuclear bombs.

Will Japan turn to the nuclear option?