Obama to Hiroshima?

Kyodo News released a news from Washington, D.C., about possible visit of United States President Barack Obama to Hiroshima next month. It said that Obama was likely to visit Hiroshima, taking opportunity of Group 7 Summit Meeting in Japan late May. The article analyzed Obama’s motivation to be legacy making as U.S. President who received Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 with his appeal for the world without nuclear weapon. If U.S. public has changed enough to allow their President to visit Hiroshima, the Japanese are welcoming it. If Obama spare it, huge disappointment will be remained in Japanese public.

Kyodo said that it detected perspective of multiple highly ranked officials on U.S. government for President’s visit to Hiroshima. One of the officials told Kyodo that there was no opposition in Obama administration. The administration is expected to announce it next month.

The key for U.S. President’s visit to Hiroshima has been whether it would mean apology to Japan. Schools in U.S. has been teaching that dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary for avoiding further victims of the war. Most Americans still believe that atomic bomb was correct option. Obama has carefully been analyzing political impact of his visit to Hiroshima.

In Obama administration, it became normal for U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Roos or Caroline Kennedy, to participate in the memorial ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6^th. Obama administration sent Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, Rose Gottemoeller, to the ceremony last year. Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited Hiroshima and offered flower to the monument of victims this month, taking opportunity of G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting. Obama administration has been watching the response of the public.

However, there are negative elements against Obama’s Hiroshima visit. Firstly, Presidential election is ongoing now. Conservatives in Republican Party will accuse appeasing attitude of Democrats administration. Furthermore, visit to Hiroshima has no actual impact on the discussion over nuclear disarmament or non-proliferation regime. It is still not clear that Obama’s personal willingness of political legacy will be a good reason to visit Hiroshima.

Kyodo also quoted a comment of former staff in National Security Council, Michael Green, who was worried about sending wrong message to North Korea. According to Green, Obama’s soft attitude may cause skepticism on the deterrence under U.S. nuclear umbrella. He thought that conservative President would be more suitable for visiting Hiroshima.