Hiroshi Tajima

Chief Administrator, Shinshū Ōtani-ha (Higashi Honganji)

September 5, 2017

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea recently conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb. This country’s actions have sharply escalated military tensions along the Korean peninsula, which already were mounting because of its repeated missile tests. Both the DPRK and countries opposing it have exacerbated this confrontation by repeatedly directing criticism against one another. This conflict has plunged the entire world into an imminent crisis.
We need to be reminded that true peace can never be attained through nuclear armament, which is nothing but a violation of human dignity and an act of destruction to international relationships.
In a past war, Japan isolated itself from the international community by voluntarily severing ties with other nations. From that experience, we learned that a military buildup and war only lead to tragic consequences, which always inflict a heavy sacrifice on ordinary people.
As a Buddhist who feels a sense of responsibility for the tragedy of that past war, I strongly encourage the DPRK and the other countries involved to work together—as equal partners who share the same precious life—to overcome this crisis, and establish, through continued dialogue, a truly peaceful relationship.