A superior official from the Japanese Prime Minister's Office has sparked a heated debate by suggesting that Japan should consider possessing nuclear weapons. The proposal, considered a major deviation from Japan's traditional pacifist policy, is said to result from rising regional tensions and increasing concerns over national safety. The official believes nuclear deterrence can help safeguard the country. However, the statement has caused a stir among the public and political circles alike.

In Japan, nuclear weapons possession is a delicate subject considering the country is the only one in history to have suffered nuclear attacks. Japan has a non-nuclear constitution, and any proposal advocating for nuclear weapons directly contradicts its foundational values. The public sentiment strongly leans towards pacifism, and this news raises concerns regarding its governmental commitment to peace.

In contrast, many countries in the US and EU possess nuclear weapons and consider them an essential part of their national security. The US in particular significantly relies on its nuclear arsenal for deterrence against potential adversaries. However, the very idea of procuring nuclear weapons is contentious given the enormous human and environmental impact, as witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.