Marking the Fifth Anniversary of the TPNW with Peace Boat

By Hana Shono

On 22 January 2026, at 3pm JST, Peace Boat marked the fifth anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) with a commemorative event featuring the voices of diplomats, activists and Hibakusha, survivors of nuclear violence. The event was both a reflection but also a call to action, encouraging listeners to engage with the TPNW and nuclear disarmament efforts. 

The event opened with images documenting Peace Boat’s journeys over the past seven to eight years. These journeys carried Hibakusha across the world to share their stories and warnings with the rest of the world. These images set the tone of what was to follow: a reminder that the treaty is not just a legal document but also a living response to historical and current human suffering.  

Moderated by Rika Watanabe, International Coordinator of Peace Boat, the event reflected on what the TPNW has achieved since it entered into force five years ago on 22 January 2021 and what lies ahead in an increasingly unstable world.  

Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, framed the discussion by addressing the realities of today’s world. She warned that nuclear-armed states are acting in blatant disregard of international law and the institutions created after the Second World War to uphold peace. Nuclear weapons pose an existential risk to life on this planet, and yet they continue to be justified by nuclear-armed states in the name of security. Melissa Parke emphasised the importance of countries and civil society garnering support for multilateral action and the common good. The TPNW is an example of such action.  

The Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been fighting for nuclear disarmament for eight decades. Their message is simple: the horrors of 1945 must never be repeated. Melissa Parke stressed that the Japanese government must not only listen and heed these warnings, but they must also engage meaningfully with the TPNW. It is only by renouncing nuclear weapons that true security can be achieved.  

Elayne Whyte Gómez, the former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica and former Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN, reflected on how the TPNW has evolved since its adoption. Since its entry into force, the treaty has grown into a dynamic platform for serious engagement on nuclear disarmament. With 99 signatories and the creation of new institutional structures, working groups and a scientific advisory group, the TPNW is a “real and living instrument” that must be nurtured.  

Yet, with rising global tensions and ongoing conflicts, we must rethink how security is defined. Elayne Whyte Gómez called for the reframing of the international security debate – one that centres the humanitarian realities and legacy of the Hibakusha rather than military might.  

Akira Kawasaki, Executive Committee member of Peace Boat, spoke about the sense of helplessness that may be felt around the world. Conflicts have become the norm such that individuals don’t believe there is anything they can do. In Japan, discussions about remilitarisation and war only serve to deepen this unease. It is precisely because of this that the TPNW is so important. It exists to counter this despair and is proof that with collective action, people can make a difference. War can be stopped and peace can be achieved.  

In 2017, 122 countries voted in favour of the Treaty and the TPNW is now ratified by 74 states parties, supported by a further 25 signatories, agreeing that nuclear weapons must be abolished. Despite this, there are still around 12,000 nuclear weapons in existence. The risk of nuclear war remains terrifyingly real. What the TPNW has done, however, is shift the idea that only nuclear-armed states can drive disarmament efforts. It shows that states without nuclear weapons can take the lead, helping to make the idea that “nuclear weapons are evil” common sense.  

In doing so, the TPNW also recognises that responsibility does not rest solely with governments. It is the communities affected by nuclear weapons use, testing and mining, who matter. The treaty commits states to providing assistance to victims and restoring environments polluted by nuclear activities. It also challenges the idea that nuclear weapons can or should be a means of defence.  

It is encouraging to see that concrete change is already being made. More than 100 banks worldwide have stopped providing loans for and withdrawn investments from nuclear weapons manufacturers. In Japan, discussions have begun in the National Diet about participating as an observer in Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty meetings. These may seem like small, almost unimportant, steps, but they show that the Treaty has had an impact in breaking down structures that have normalised nuclear violence.  

The voices of the Hibakusha and survivors from around the world drove home the importance of nuclear disarmament. Terumi Tanaka reflected on what receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 meant for disarmament efforts. At a time when a world without nuclear weapons seemed almost impossible, the prize affirmed that the work was not only necessary, but a clear step in the right direction. Despite this, Terumi Tanaka warned that this cannot be taken for granted and further work must be done. It is crucial that younger generations remain engaged with this work to continue the conversation forward, lest it be forgotten.  

The importance of youth engagement was repeated throughout the event. Joe Naoki Christoph described how the adoption of the TPNW in 2017 shaped his understanding of responsibility. By building relationships and finding the courage to speak uncomfortable truths, we can amplify those voices and increase engagement with disarmament. The future of the Treaty is dependent on the communities and everyday institutions.  

Young activists like Suzuka Nakamura embody this future. Inspired by the stories of the Hibakusha at school, she wondered: why, if nuclear weapons are so clearly destructive, do they still exist? Her vision for the future includes creating sustainable pathways for young people to work in nuclear disarmament. While there is passion for involvement, young people are limited by the need to sustain their livelihoods. It is this hurdle that Suzuka Nakamura wishes to overcome and provide a sustainable system of her own.  

Nuclear harm is also global and ongoing. Ihirau Piton from Tahiti spoke of the shared suffering caused by nuclear testing in his home country. As someone who has experienced first-hand the destructive power of nuclear weapons and seen the capacity it has to destroy the planet, it is critical that we understand that this should never have happened.  

Alisher Khassengaliyev from Kazakhstan described inheriting a duty to pursue justice after more than 450 nuclear tests were conducted in his country. Describing real peace as “not merely the absence of violence, but it is the presence of empathy, truth and accountability”, Alisher highlighted how the TPNW offers legal recognition, accountability and a foundation for justice.   

The event closed with words from Setsuko Thurlow, a Hibakusha from Hiroshima. “It is at times like these,” she said, “during these dark times, that we must seek light and work hard. We cannot give up.” 

Five years on, the TPNW stands as both an achievement and a call for action. It reminds us not only to consider what kind of world we want, but what kind of responsibility we are willing to carry to make that world possible.