They expressed concern, however, that more “insensitive and unnecessary” comments critical of one of Washington’s closest allies may be forthcoming in the coming months as the campaign becomes more heated.
“Graham’s comments were very unfortunate and unnecessary,” said Yoichi Shimada, a professor of international relations at Fukui Prefectural University.
The Japanese government had “reacted quite calmly” to the comments, he said, adding, “But I hope that the Japanese embassy in Washington has reached out and warned him. US politicians need to be more careful because this is the sort of thing that can cause ill feeling at a time when we need to be reinforcing the alliance.
Graham was speaking in the US Senate on May 8 during a subcommittee meeting discussing the partial suspension of US weapons shipments to Israel.
Graham continued the comparison by asking General Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “In hindsight, do you think that was the right decision, for America to drop two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities in question?”
Brown replied, “I’ll tell you it stopped a world war.”
Responding to a reporter’s question in Tokyo on Friday, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said, “I believe those remarks about Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not appropriate.
“Japan is aware that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki took so many precious lives and caused an extremely regrettable humanitarian situation in which people suffered indescribable hardships due to illness and disabilities.
“We believe the use of nuclear weapons does not match the spirit of humanitarianism, which is the ideological foundation of international law, because of their tremendous destructive and lethal power.”
That message was passed on to Graham’s office, she said, although it appeared to have been overlooked by the senator as he doubled down on his comments on an NBC News programme on Sunday.
“Why is it OK for America to drop two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end their existential-threat war?” he asked. “That was the right decision. So, Israel, do whatever you have to do to survive as a Jewish state.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi responded to the follow-up comments, describing them as “extremely unfortunate”.
“I am extremely disappointed that such statements have been repeated,” he said. “I will continue to work tirelessly to promote an accurate understanding of the reality of the atomic bombing, including that of Senator Graham.”
The “Little Boy” enriched uranium bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killed as many as 145,000 residents of the city, either in the immediate blast or of radiation-related illnesses over the following months. Three days later, the “Fat Boy” plutonium weapon detonated over Nagasaki, killing around 80,000 people.
03:45
US, Japan hail upgraded ties, unveil raft of bilateral deals following Biden-Kishida summit
US, Japan hail upgraded ties, unveil raft of bilateral deals following Biden-Kishida summit
He added that the timing of Graham’s comments was “unfortunate”, coming soon after Biden was criticised for describing Japan as a “xenophobic” nation as it did not have large-scale immigration, a point he was attempting to score against Trump’s hostility to immigrants.
“Japan is walking a tightrope,” Kingston added. “They have to say what the domestic audience favours, but they do not want to upset Uncle Sam.