As the global state of affairs becomes more daunting and the risk of countries using nuclear weapons grows, it is time for Japan, the only nation to have been attacked by nuclear weapons in war, to stand up for the cause of abolition.

A meeting between signatories to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons gets underway this March. Four years since the treaty came into effect, 73 countries and regions have ratified it. However, nuclear-armed powers such as the United States have not.

Since the treaty prohibits the possession, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons across the board, Japan -- which is protected by the U.S.' "nuclear umbrella," at present cannot sign it. Japan has also not taken part in the meetings as an observer, out of consideration toward the U.S. and for other factors.

However, countries such as Germany, which is under the U.S.' nuclear umbrella as a member of NATO, are participating as observers. While testifying on the need for nuclear restraint, Germany has taken the stance of working with member states toward nuclear abolition.

In East Asia as well, there is supposed to be a way to fulfill both security guarantees and measures for nuclear disarmament.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is reportedly examining the responses of Germany and other parties with an eye on the upcoming meeting. If that's true, he should exercise political leadership and decide to join as an observer as soon as possible.

Donald Trump is soon to be inaugurated as the 47th U.S. president. Ishiba needs to steadfastly convey Japan's point of view to him over nuclear weapons.

The National Diet also has a large role to fill. Major opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and ruling coalition member Komeito support the idea of Japan's participation as an observer.

As the opposition has a majority in the lower house, they have a greater than ever responsibility, even in the field of diplomatic strategies. In the Diet's next regular session, the opposition should unify beyond party lines and strongly urge Ishiba to commit to a decision.

Following his country's invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened the use of nuclear weapons. In the Middle East, a bloody conflict and crisis also continues between unofficially nuclear-armed Israel and its adversaries.

The Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) recently won the Nobel Peace Prize. The awarding expresses the international community's sense of urgency about the risk of nuclear weapons.

This year marks eight decades since the end of World War II. Japan should seek ways to achieve disarmament by working with other states, based on its history as the only wartime country struck by nuclear weapons. Such a stance will lead Japan to serve as a bridgebuilder between nuclear-armed and non-nuclear nations.