Survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have lodged a protest with the Japanese government over its decision not to participate as an observer in a UN nuclear weapons ban treaty conference.



Eight members of the Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition visited the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday. The network is a coalition of civil society organizations and individuals that seek the abolition of nuclear weapons.



The co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, Tanaka Terumi, conveyed the network's disappointment to Nakamura Kimitake, the head of the ministry's Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department.



Nihon Hidankyo, a group that represents atomic bomb survivors, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.



Representatives of groups that make up the network reiterated their request that Japan take part in the meeting as the only country in the world to have suffered atomic bombings.



Nakamura said he is keenly aware that Japan faces a serious challenge fulfilling its duty as an atomic-bombed country while dealing properly with its security threats.



He said that without the participation of nuclear-armed states at the conference, it's practically impossible to ensure the implementation of effective measures on nuclear disarmament.



He said Japan will continue to seek the abolition of nuclear weapons under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, which nuclear and non-nuclear states widely take part in.



After the visit, Tanaka told reporters that the ministry explained that today's diplomatic climate puts Japan in an extremely difficult position. But he said atomic bombing survivors like himself want the government to put Japan's position as the only atomic-bombed country at the forefront of its diplomatic efforts.



He said he thinks the government's foremost duty is to use the conference to publicize Japan's stance as the only atomic-bombed country to the international community.