U.S. Election: Mix of Anxiety, Hope Swirls in Japan Over Trump’s Victory; Nihon Hidankyo Cochair Fears World Free of N-Weapons ‘May Be Elusive’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:00 JST, November 7, 2024

A combination of anxiety and hope swirled in Japan after former U.S. President Donald Trump, who promised to put “America first,” won the presidential election.

Some were anxious over the stagnation of nuclear disarmament and efforts to combat climate change, while others were hopeful over the possible progress that could be made in resolving the abduction issue by North Korea.

“During [Trump’s] presidency, as nuclear tests were being carried out, [people] were always concerned about nuclear weapons,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, cochairperson of Nihon Hidankyo, or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. “A world free of nuclear weapons may be elusive.”

During his campaign, Trump expressed his support for Israel to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“To honor the wishes of the atomic bombs victims, I think Japan’s role will be even greater, as it’s the only country to have experienced nuclear attacks,” Mimaki said.

In 2020, under the Trump administration, the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement, an international framework to combat climate change. Although U.S. President Joe Biden brought the country back to the accord, Trump said he would withdraw the United States from the agreement again.

“Since Trump doesn’t like international frameworks and might stop aid from being sent to developing countries, the international community will likely be thrown into turmoil,” said Mie Asaoka, the representative of Kiko Network, a nonprofit organization that works to combat climate change.

However, the families of those who have been abducted by North Korea have high expectations. Trump held meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019 and urged Kim to resolve the abduction issue.

According to Naoko Arimoto, elder sister of Keiko Arimoto, who was abducted at the age of 23, Trump gave her 96-year-old father Akihiro a letter after meeting with the families of the abductees in Tokyo. The letter read that Trump would do his best to help him.

“I felt his kindness,” Naoko, 66, said. “In order to resolve this issue, I want the United States to be strong.”