In the latter part of the dialogue between Emmanuel Todd and an Asahi Shimbun editorialist, issues of nuclear proliferation, U.S. aggression, Iran, and Japan’s national interests converge, culminating in Todd’s explicit assertion that the nuclear question has become urgent.

An anti-militarist.
Not a fanatic admirer of nuclear weapons.
But in truth, the question of nuclear possession is urgent.
2016-10-31
The following continues from the previous chapter.
All emphasis in the text is mine.
Wakamiya Yoshibumi
In Asia and the Middle East, where there is no framework like the EU, what would happen.
Proliferation would expand further, increasing the risk of nuclear use through accidents or leakage.
If such weapons fell into the hands of international terrorist organizations, balance would be meaningless.
Emmanuel Todd
If nuclear proliferation is truly frightening, then first the United States must be calmed.
Many people around the world, including in Japan, do not want to think of the United States as an aggressive country.
Last year the French government also treated Iran’s nuclear suspicions seriously and appeared to follow the United States.
But everything changed again with Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, coordinated with the United States.
The United States is trying to draw its European allies into confrontation with Iran.
Japan, like Europe, depends on Middle Eastern oil, but will it follow the United States even against its own national interests.
Wakamiya
Japan’s dependence on Iranian oil is considerable, and the historical relationship is deep.
What would happen if a war with Iran began before the situation in Iraq was even resolved.
As in the case of Iraq, public support for war would not materialize.
Todd
That is today’s biggest news, then, he laughs.
Unlike North Korea, Iran, having passed through the Islamic Revolution, is a country that, like Japan, represents an ancient non-Western civilization.
It cannot be called a democracy, but it has a tradition of debate.
Elections have been held continuously, and pluralism has taken root.
The fanatical image of that president is not the essential issue.
Wakamiya
During the Iran–Iraq War, Japan maintained dialogue with both sides and worked as an intermediary.
The central figure was the father of Prime Minister Abe, Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe.
Todd
I am a center-left thinker and an anti-militarist who did not even properly complete military service.
I am not a fanatic lover of nuclear weapons.
But honestly speaking, the issue of nuclear possession is urgent.
Wakamiya
Nuclear balance holds because once nuclear weapons are used, it is over.
In human history, Japan is the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, and therefore bears the responsibility to convey that tragedy.
Even if urged to possess nuclear weapons, it would be acceptable for there to be at least one “strange country” that refuses.
Todd
That way of thinking is interesting, but if a country that has suffered a nuclear attack comes to possess nuclear weapons, a serious debate on nuclear issues will begin.
It would become a major turning point.
To be continued.