The Daily Populous Friday December 19th, 2025 night edition
Authored by english.kyodonews.net and submitted by Themetalin

TOKYO - A source within Japan's prime minister's office said Thursday that the country needs nuclear weapons, remarks that deviate from the country's long-standing non-nuclear principles and could trigger backlash at home and abroad.

"I think we should possess nuclear weapons," said the source, who is involved in devising security policy under the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while also indicating that such a move is unrealistic.

The remarks came as Takaichi, known for her hawkish security views, is considering reviewing Japan's non-nuclear principles, long upheld given the country's status as the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings.

During the exchanges with reporters, the source was asked about the idea of possessing nuclear arms.

Acknowledging the necessity of the destructive weapons, the source said, "In the end, we can only rely on ourselves."

The individual, however, also said, "It isn't something that can be done quickly, like just going to a convenience store to buy something."

Government sources earlier said that Takaichi, who also heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is considering reviewing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which prohibit possessing, producing, or permitting the introduction of nuclear arms.

The Three Non-Nuclear Principles were first declared in the Diet by then Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967 and became viewed as a national credo. Sato won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974 for the declaration and his contributions to peace.

Seeking to alter its basic nuclear policy remains controversial in Japan, with many in the public cherishing the pacifist postwar Constitution. It also runs counter to the government's efforts to pursue a world without nuclear weapons, an ardent wish of aging atomic bomb survivors in Japan.

At the same time, however, Japan has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for protection, which some critics say already contradicts the non-nuclear principles.

The prime minister's office source denied having a discussion with Takaichi about reviewing the non-nuclear principles.

In 1999, then Parliamentary Vice Defense Minister Shingo Nishimura, a member of the now-defunct Liberal Party, was sacked after coming under fire for suggesting that Japan consider arming itself with nuclear weapons.

Plus-Opportunity-538 on December 18th, 2025 at 20:13 UTC »

As someone born in the early 80s I came into a world seemingly always on the precipice of nuclear war until finally tensions tipped off when one of the superpowers fell and disarmament and optimism arose. How fucking depressing to see things come full circle.

Pineappleman60 on December 18th, 2025 at 19:37 UTC »

I mean the failure of things like the Budapest memorandum to preserve the territorial integrity of non nuclear states from nuclear armed states makes it so any non nuclear power that has a dispute with a nuclear armed neighbor is going to want nuclear weapons.

For example Pakistan is at a major disadvantage compared to India in terms of economy, population, et cetera, but Pakistan has nukes so it doesn't really have to worry about being invaded.

crimxxx on December 18th, 2025 at 19:37 UTC »

Basically the argument for any country is we want to deter people so we need to have them to deter. Which is fair. On the flip side the more people who have them the more chances there are for something stupid to happen.

I can get why someone wants them as a source of security, and that is probably the feeling for alot of countries. I would not be suprised if alot more countries try to get there hands on them in the next few years, having a few nukes does allow for a great deterrent to even a super power.