The mayors of the two Japanese cities where atomic bombs were dropped near the end of World War Two have met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. They requested that leaders of the Group of 7 bloc visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and exchange dialogue with hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors.

Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi and Nagasaki Mayor Taue Tomihisa jointly met Kishida at the prime minister's office on Tuesday.

Ahead of the meeting, the two mayors visited the embassies of the G7 nations. They asked that in the event of the Hiroshima G7 summit in May, each of the leaders visit the peace memorial museum and meet atomic bomb survivors. They also requested that the leaders visit Nagasaki City.

The two asked Kishida to make these requests happen.

They say Kishida expressed his readiness to continue coordinating plans for the summit.

Matsui says the prime minister indicated hopes to seize the opportunity to bring momentum to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, which is losing steam.

Taue said Kishida appeared eager to make use of the summit to send the message that nuclear arms should never again be used.