ICAN’s secretary-general Beatrice Fihn accused Japan of “isolating itself” by not signing the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, while remaining silent on North Korea’s nuclear threats.
This article exposes the hypocrisy of ICAN and reveals the structure of its international network, including Japan’s Peace Boat, which forms the core of its operational group.

The claim that “Japan will be isolated in the world if it does not sign the treaty” was made arrogantly in condemnation of the Japanese government.
November 6, 2024
The following is taken from the article “The Nobel Peace Prize, ICAN, and Peace Boat’s ‘Honeymoon’,” published in this month’s issue of the monthly magazine Hanada, written by Yamaoka Tetsuhide.
Emphasis in the text, except for headlines, is mine.
Shouldering hotel expenses?
Ahead of the U.S.–North Korea summit on June 12, a report spread around the world that North Korea was “asking a third country to cover its hotel costs in Singapore because it cannot pay.”
How could it have money to develop nuclear weapons but not enough for hotel bills?
In the common sense of Japanese people, and in the common sense of the international community, such a situation should be unthinkably humiliating.
However, according to experts, in the culture of the Korean Peninsula, this is not considered particularly shameful.
(Professor Shigemura Toshimitsu, Daily Shincho, June 9)
Therefore, I have long argued that ideas such as “Japan should pursue diplomacy from a morally superior position against states on the Korean Peninsula” are entirely meaningless.
They do not share the same moral concepts.
In response to North Korea’s request, the U.S. government immediately issued a statement saying it had “no intention of covering the costs,” while the Singaporean government suggested it was “considering” it.
What was surprising was that an NGO also offered to shoulder the expenses.
That NGO was ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons).
ICAN conducted campaigns for the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and made major contributions to its realization, earning it the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
It may be remembered that Beatrice Fihn, the Swedish-born executive director, visited Japan and condemned the Japanese government with insolent remarks such as, “Do you think it is acceptable for the same tragedy to happen outside Hiroshima or Nagasaki?” and “Japan will be isolated in the world if it does not sign the treaty.”
She also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Abe, and when it did not happen, some media reported it as if “Prime Minister Abe ran away.”
Although the request was made on short notice and during the Prime Minister’s overseas trip, Asahi Shimbun even highlighted the irrelevant comment by Communist Party secretary-general Koike Akira: “Which country’s prime minister are you really?” (January 15, 2018).
Should not ICAN and the Communist Party formally protest North Korea for its nuclear blackmail and hold a press conference demanding the abolition of its nuclear weapons and the ratification of the treaty?
Instead, making baseless accusations in Japan, one of the most peaceful countries in the world with guaranteed freedom of speech, is nothing but hypocrisy.
When former President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, I thought the Peace Prize should be removed from the Nobel awards altogether, and this case renewed that feeling.
According to the organization’s website, the purpose of ICAN, headquartered in Geneva, is to have as many countries as possible ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
To achieve this purpose, its main activity is to mobilize civil society around the world.
The actual organizational operation is jointly managed by partner organizations that agree with its purpose.
From among the partner groups, an “International Steering Group” (ISG) is formed, and representatives of the participating groups (international steering committee members) make decisions.
Under the ISG’s direction, an international staff team (IST), composed of individuals, carries out practical operations.
According to ICAN’s homepage, the following organizations are currently participating in the International Steering Group:
• Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy (UK)
• African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (Kenya)
• Article 36 (UK)
• International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (USA)
• 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 (USA)
As you may have noticed, Peace Boat of Japan appears here.
Peace Boat, along with the other nine organizations, constitutes ICAN’s operational unit.
These ten NGOs, including Peace Boat, received official replicas of the medal and certificate when ICAN was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
I will consider three of these NGOs, including Peace Boat.
To be continued.