By Jimmy Chazama:
Japan has urged the international community to strengthen efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons, saying peace and resilience are vital in the face of global uncertainty.
Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Naito Yasushi said peace must remain at the centre of global cooperation, reminding nations of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and the need to choose dialogue over confrontation.
Yasushi said Japan continues to push for practical steps towards disarmament and highlighted the country’s December 2025 United Nations resolution, which was supported by 147 countries including Malawi.
He spoke yesterday during the opening of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Poster Exhibition at Lilongwe City Council Chambers.
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“We sincerely hope this exhibition will connect the hearts of those who seek a world without nuclear weapons and encourage reflection on the preciousness of peace,” he said.
The envoy added that last year marked 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and that Japan, as the only country to have experienced such attacks, has a responsibility to lead global disarmament efforts.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (Legal) Mary Kachale said the bombings remain a lasting warning to humanity, stressing that science and technology must always be guided by wisdom, restraint and moral responsibility.
“Malawi reaffirms its commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons, a world where dialogue triumphs over confrontation and cooperation prevails over division,” she said.
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Both governments expressed hope that the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will inspire Malawians, particularly young people, to embrace peace, compassion and respect for human life.
The opening of the exhibition also featured students from Mkwichi Secondary School, who presented posters depicting the destruction and loss of life caused by the atomic bombs.
In August 1945 the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing between 150,000 and 246,000 people, mostly civilians, through immediate destruction and long-term radiation sickness.
Japan surrendered days later, bringing World War II to an end.
