Published on September 17, 2019.
This article introduces an essay by Yamaoka Tetsuhide published in the monthly magazine Hanada, discussing the relationship between Nobel Peace Prize winner ICAN and Japan’s Peace Boat, North Korea’s nuclear issue, and the question of who would cover North Korea’s hotel expenses at the U.S.-North Korea summit.
It criticizes ICAN, the Japanese Communist Party, and the Asahi Shimbun for condemning the Japanese government while not directly protesting North Korea, which threatens the world with nuclear weapons, and raises doubts about the Nobel Peace Prize itself.

September 17, 2019.
At the point when former President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, I thought that the Peace Prize should be removed from the Nobel Prizes, and this time that feeling has been renewed.
The following is from a laborious essay by Yamaoka Tetsuhide, published in this month’s issue of the monthly magazine Hanada under the title “The Honeymoon Between Nobel Peace Prize Winner ICAN and Peace Boat.”
Emphasis in the text, apart from headings, is mine.
Covering the Accommodation Expenses?
Ahead of the U.S.-North Korea summit on June 12, the world was surprised by reports that North Korea was “seeking a third country to cover its hotel expenses in Singapore because it could not pay them.”
Can it be possible that a country has money to develop nuclear weapons but no money for hotel expenses?
By Japanese common sense, and of course by the common sense of the international community, this should be an impossible humiliation, but according to experts, in the culture of the Korean Peninsula it is not particularly shameful.
Professor Shigemura Toshimitsu, Daily Shincho, June 9.
That is why I have long argued that the idea of “promoting diplomacy from a position of moral superiority” toward states on the Korean Peninsula is utterly meaningless.
They do not share moral concepts.
In response to this request from North Korea, the U.S. government immediately issued a statement saying that it had no intention of covering the expenses, while the Singapore government indicated that it would “consider” doing so.
What surprised me was that one NGO also offered to cover the cost.
That NGO was ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
It is still fresh in memory that ICAN received the Nobel Prize last year for carrying out a campaign toward the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and making a major contribution to the realization of the treaty.
Some readers may remember that Secretary-General Beatrice Fihn, from Sweden, came to Japan and arrogantly criticized the Japanese government with statements such as, “Do you think it is acceptable for the same mistake to be repeated somewhere other than Hiroshima and Nagasaki?” and “Japan, which does not sign the treaty, will be isolated in the world.”
There were also conspicuous media reports that portrayed the failure of her requested meeting with Prime Minister Abe as if “Prime Minister Abe had run away.”
Even though it was only natural that he could not meet her because the request was made immediately before the proposed meeting and during Prime Minister Abe’s overseas trip, the Asahi Shimbun even went so far as to take up the off-the-mark statement by Akira Koike, Secretariat Chair of the Japanese Communist Party: “Which country are you really the prime minister of?”
January 15, 2018.
Should not ICAN and the Communist Party formally protest in writing to North Korea, which intimidates others with nuclear weapons, and hold a press conference demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons and ratification of the treaty?
To fail to do that, and instead make accusatory remarks in Japan, one of the most peaceful countries in the world where freedom of speech is guaranteed, is nothing but deception.
At the point when former President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, I thought that the Peace Prize should be removed from the Nobel Prizes, and this time that feeling has been renewed.
According to the website of this Geneva-based NGO called ICAN, its purpose is to have as many countries as possible ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
To carry out that purpose, its main activity is to mobilize civil society around the world.
The actual operation of the organization is joint management by partner organizations that agree with its purpose.
From among the partner organizations, an “International Steering Group,” or ISG, is formed, and the organization is run through deliberation among the representatives of the participating groups, the international steering committee members.
Under the direction of that ISG, an International Staff Team, or IST, consisting of individuals is formed to carry out practical work.
According to ICAN’s website, the following organizations currently participate in the International Steering Group that operates ICAN.
・Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy.
United Kingdom.
・African Council of Religious Leaders–Religions for Peace.
Kenya.
・Article 36.
United Kingdom.
・International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
United States.
・Latin America Human Security Network.
Argentina.
・Norwegian People’s Aid.
Norway.
・PAX.
Netherlands.
・Peace Boat.
Japan.
・Swedish Physicians against Nuclear Weapons.
Sweden.
・Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
United States.
As you will have noticed, Japan’s Peace Boat appears here.
Peace Boat, together with the other nine organizations, is ICAN’s working unit.
The above ten organizations, including Peace Boat, were awarded official replicas of the medal and diploma when ICAN received the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
From among these ten NGOs, I will examine three NGOs, including Peace Boat.
This article continues.