Achieving a world without nuclear weapons: Participation in the NPT Review Conference delegation
Pal System Tokyo and Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union participated in the NPT Review Conference held at the UN Headquarters in New York from April 24 to May 1. They engaged in activities advocating for nuclear abolition alongside the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, holding meetings with various governments and NGOs, a peace march, and an atomic bomb exhibition.
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Pal System Tokyo Consumers' Co-operative (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoko Nishimura) and Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Shibusawa) visited New York for seven days from April 24 (Friday) to May 1 (Friday). As part of a delegation comprising the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) and consumer cooperatives nationwide, they participated in meetings with various governments and NGOs, and advocacy activities calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, held in conjunction with the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference at the United Nations Headquarters.
UN Secretary-General Guterres delivering a speech in the UN General Assembly Hall.
Encouragement and applause in central New York.
The delegation consisted of 8 members from Nihon Hidankyo and 34 members from consumer cooperatives nationwide, totaling 42 individuals, who engaged in activities across New York City, including at the UN Headquarters. Activities included a peace march calling for a world free of nuclear weapons, testimonial events, participation in symposiums, and exchanges of opinions with governments and NGOs.
The peace march took place on April 26 (Sunday), prior to the opening of the Review Conference. Approximately 300 people participated, mainly atomic bomb survivors and representatives from organizations advocating for nuclear weapons abolition. Among them were also individuals who traveled from Korean atomic bomb survivor organizations and peace groups active in various countries.
The march started from the Public Library near Times Square in central New York, passed famous landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building, and walked 1.5 km to the front of the UN building. Along the route, many people offered encouragement and applause, and took photos with their smartphones, appealing to passersby for a world without nuclear weapons and war.
At the starting point of the peace march with Nihon Hidankyo members, arriving in front of the UN.
Atomic Bomb Exhibition at UN Headquarters: All sessions over-subscribed.
The Review Conference opened the following day, April 27 (Monday). The delegation observed the conference and attended the opening ceremony of the "Atomic Bomb Exhibition," which also commenced that day in the UN Headquarters lobby. Jirou Hamazumi, Secretary-General of Nihon Hidankyo, along with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, attended, expressing hopes for broader understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing and past activities. The Atomic Bomb Exhibition will run until June 1 (Monday).
Symposiums and forums were held at various locations throughout the city, all attracting participants exceeding venue capacities. During testimonial sessions, atomic bomb survivors shared their and their families' experiences, with attendees listening intently. Discussions highlighted a global challenge: a lack of widespread understanding of the impact of nuclear weapons use, especially among generations born after the Cold War and active outdoor nuclear testing era.
Meetings with governments and NGOs included discussions with Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General (and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs), Shigeru Umezu, Ambassador of Japan to the UN, Swedish parliamentarians, and representatives from Albanian activist groups. Some, including Secretary-General Hamazumi, remained in New York after the delegation's return to speak at the Review Conference as representatives of atomic bomb survivors. They also met with Ambassador Viet (NPT Review Conference President, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN), the Russian government, and the French Disarmament Ambassador, exchanging views on nuclear weapons abolition.
Many people flocked to the Atomic Bomb Exhibition. Discussion with UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu.
Conveying, "Neither living nor dying is possible."
Secretary-General Hamazumi stated, "I am the 'youngest atomic bomb survivor,' having been exposed in my mother's womb. In-utero survivors, exposed before birth, experience the suffering of being unable to live or die, and even now live worrying about the health of their children and grandchildren. By testifying about these experiences, we have morally criticized nuclear weapons. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it has merely been fortunate that nuclear weapons have not been used for 80 years. We will continue to advocate that 'humans and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.'"
Jirou Hamazumi, Secretary-General of Nihon Hidankyo.
Pal System Tokyo Consumers' Co-operative
Location: Laquas Higashi Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. President: Yoko Nishimura.
Capital contribution: 22.57 billion JPY. Members: 539,000. Total business revenue: 88.32 billion JPY (as of March 2025).
Website: https://www.palsystem-tokyo.coop/
Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union
Location: Laquas Higashi Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. President: Atsushi Shibusawa.
13 member cooperatives. Total business revenue for unified business system users: 260.42 billion JPY / Total members: 1.762 million (as of March 2025).
Member cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Saitama Workers' Co-op, Ai Co-op Miyagi.
Website: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/
UN Secretary-General Guterres delivering a speech in the UN General Assembly Hall.
Encouragement and applause in central New York.
The delegation consisted of 8 members from Nihon Hidankyo and 34 members from consumer cooperatives nationwide, totaling 42 individuals, who engaged in activities across New York City, including at the UN Headquarters. Activities included a peace march calling for a world free of nuclear weapons, testimonial events, participation in symposiums, and exchanges of opinions with governments and NGOs.
The peace march took place on April 26 (Sunday), prior to the opening of the Review Conference. Approximately 300 people participated, mainly atomic bomb survivors and representatives from organizations advocating for nuclear weapons abolition. Among them were also individuals who traveled from Korean atomic bomb survivor organizations and peace groups active in various countries.
The march started from the Public Library near Times Square in central New York, passed famous landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building, and walked 1.5 km to the front of the UN building. Along the route, many people offered encouragement and applause, and took photos with their smartphones, appealing to passersby for a world without nuclear weapons and war.
At the starting point of the peace march with Nihon Hidankyo members, arriving in front of the UN.
Atomic Bomb Exhibition at UN Headquarters: All sessions over-subscribed.
The Review Conference opened the following day, April 27 (Monday). The delegation observed the conference and attended the opening ceremony of the "Atomic Bomb Exhibition," which also commenced that day in the UN Headquarters lobby. Jirou Hamazumi, Secretary-General of Nihon Hidankyo, along with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, attended, expressing hopes for broader understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing and past activities. The Atomic Bomb Exhibition will run until June 1 (Monday).
Symposiums and forums were held at various locations throughout the city, all attracting participants exceeding venue capacities. During testimonial sessions, atomic bomb survivors shared their and their families' experiences, with attendees listening intently. Discussions highlighted a global challenge: a lack of widespread understanding of the impact of nuclear weapons use, especially among generations born after the Cold War and active outdoor nuclear testing era.
Meetings with governments and NGOs included discussions with Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General (and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs), Shigeru Umezu, Ambassador of Japan to the UN, Swedish parliamentarians, and representatives from Albanian activist groups. Some, including Secretary-General Hamazumi, remained in New York after the delegation's return to speak at the Review Conference as representatives of atomic bomb survivors. They also met with Ambassador Viet (NPT Review Conference President, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN), the Russian government, and the French Disarmament Ambassador, exchanging views on nuclear weapons abolition.
Many people flocked to the Atomic Bomb Exhibition. Discussion with UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu.
Conveying, "Neither living nor dying is possible."
Secretary-General Hamazumi stated, "I am the 'youngest atomic bomb survivor,' having been exposed in my mother's womb. In-utero survivors, exposed before birth, experience the suffering of being unable to live or die, and even now live worrying about the health of their children and grandchildren. By testifying about these experiences, we have morally criticized nuclear weapons. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it has merely been fortunate that nuclear weapons have not been used for 80 years. We will continue to advocate that 'humans and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.'"
Jirou Hamazumi, Secretary-General of Nihon Hidankyo.
Pal System Tokyo Consumers' Co-operative
Location: Laquas Higashi Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. President: Yoko Nishimura.
Capital contribution: 22.57 billion JPY. Members: 539,000. Total business revenue: 88.32 billion JPY (as of March 2025).
Website: https://www.palsystem-tokyo.coop/
Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union
Location: Laquas Higashi Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. President: Atsushi Shibusawa.
13 member cooperatives. Total business revenue for unified business system users: 260.42 billion JPY / Total members: 1.762 million (as of March 2025).
Member cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Saitama Workers' Co-op, Ai Co-op Miyagi.
Website: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/