InsideJapan News Network

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have thrown their full support behind US president Barack Obama's call for a world free of nuclear weapons.

Tadatoshi Akiba, the mayor of Hiroshima, described the growing number of people committed to abolishing the destructive weapons as the "Obamajority".

He said he coined the term because Mr Obama "is the one who has given all of us new energy and hope that we can and must abolish all nuclear weapons from the surface of this earth".

Meanwhile, Tomihasa Taue, the mayor of Nagasaki, highlighted the importance of those who survived the atomic attacks in reminding people about the tragedy.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament also welcomed Mr Obama's anti-nuclear message, which was included in a speech he made in Prague last month.

Additionally, it is opposing the UK government's £76 billion plan to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system, which has been criticised by retired generals.

Written by Mike Cotgreave


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