Why Japan's Kishida chose Hiroshima as the G-7 venue

PM's core political goal is to realize a world without nuclear weapons

20230515 Hiroshima The dome of the atomic bomb

The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima was one of the few buildings left standing after the U.S. dropped a nuclear device on the city in August 1945. © Kyodo

NATSUMI KAWASAKI, Nikkei staff writer

May 16, 2023 14:28 JST

TOKYO -- The Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bombing of Hiroshima left an indelible mark on the city and its people, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

With his electoral seat in Hiroshima, Kishida was the driver of Japan's decision to host this week's Group of Seven leaders' summit in the western Japanese city. One of his primary political goals is to realize a world without nuclear weapons. The world should "not make light" of the fact that no nuclear weapons have been used over the past 77 years, he said in Washington in January.