UNIDIR Director Dr Robin Geiss concluded an intensive week-long visit to Japan in May marked by high-level discussions, expert symposia, and deeply moving engagements in cities that remain enduring symbols of the consequences of nuclear conflict – Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a powerful moment of reflection that continues to shape the world’s understanding of the consequences of nuclear weapons. Dr Geiss’ visit to both cities during this commemorative year highlighted UNIDIR’s commitment to ensuring that the legacy of these tragedies continues to inform disarmament efforts today.
A week of dialogue, diplomacy and reflection
Dr Geiss’ mission began in Tokyo on Monday, 19 May, with a meeting with Dr Kuniko Inoguchi, Chair of the Parliamentary League for Disarmament. Their wide-ranging discussion addressed the shifting global security landscape and reaffirmed the importance of sustained multilateral engagement.
That afternoon, Dr Geiss delivered a keynote speech at the Japan Institute of International Affairs during a roundtable on Emerging Technology in International Peace and Security: UNIDIR’s Role in Shaping Emerging Governance. Hosted by Dr Akiyama Nobumasa, Acting Director of the Institute’s Centre on Disarmament, Science and Technology, the event explored the risks and opportunities posed by rapidly evolving technologies.
The roundtable featured opening remarks by Shorna-Kay Richards, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan and Chair of the UNIDIR Board of Trustees, as well as perspectives from Ambassador Kitano Mitsuru, former Permanent Representative of Japan to International Organizations in Vienna.
What’s next for global security in the era of emerging tech and outer space?🌐
— United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (@UNIDIR) May 19, 2025
UNIDIR's Director joined @ShornaKayR, @astro_naoko, Chris Blackerby and @tmarwala at @UNUniversity in Tokyo to explore governance, innovation and international cooperation on these vital frontiers 🤝 pic.twitter.com/PMU6friwn7
Later that evening, at the UNU-UNIDIR Symposium on New Frontiers in Global Security: Emerging Technologies and Outer Space, held at UNU Headquarters and supported by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Geiss joined a panel of international experts examining how artificial intelligence and space technologies are redefining global security paradigms.
He warned that interference with satellites doesn’t just pose a risk to strategic stability – it can disrupt entire societies, highlighting the dual-use nature of emerging technologies and the urgent need for global governance. Other distinguished speakers included Naoko Yamazaki, celebrated Astronaut Ambassador; Chris Blackerby, Chief Operating Officer, Astroscale; and Ambassador Shorna-Kay Richards, who cautioned that “space will become the next domain of conflict” without robust international regulation.
Bilateral engagements with Japanese leaders
On Tuesday, 20 May, UNIDIR Director paid a courtesy call to Eri Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the House of Representatives (Lower House). In a meeting that highlighted Japan’s commitment to global security, Vice-Minister Eri welcomed Dr Geiss to Tokyo where they discussed strengthened cooperation between the Government of Japan and UNIDIR. Their discussion also touched on the pressing challenges of disarmament, international security, and UN reform.
Throughout the day, Dr Geiss continued to meet with senior Japanese policymakers to discuss global security, disarmament and non-proliferation, including:
- Dr Kimitake Nakamura, Deputy Assistant Minister for Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Daisaku Hiraki, Member of the House of Councillors (Upper House)
- Professor Ken Jimbo, Keio University, President of the Asia-Pacific Initiative, and Managing Director, International House of Japan
On May 20, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI received a courtesy call from Dr. Robin Geiss, Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (#UNIDIR), who is currently visiting Japan.https://t.co/1HKndUYAmN pic.twitter.com/kShvhJS7rk
— MOFA of Japan (@MofaJapan_en) May 20, 2025
Dialogue for disarmament in Nagasaki
UNIDIR’s focus on meaningful dialogue was at the heart of Dr Geiss’ visit to Nagasaki, a city whose tragic past continues to inspire global efforts toward nuclear disarmament.
On Wednesday, 21 May, UNIDIR Director met with the President of Nagasaki University Takeshi Nagayasu, as well as Prof. Fumihiko Yoshida, Director of the Research Centre for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (RECNA), before participating in an engaging intergenerational discussion with RECNA students. Pursuant to the memorandum of understanding UNIDIR concluded with the research centre last year, Dr Geiss explored with RECNA researchers various possibilities for collaborating in research and education in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as emerging technologies.
In a powerful moment of reflection, Dr Geiss listened to the testimony of Mr Seiichiro Mise, a hibakusha (survivor of the atomic bombing), held at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Though well-versed in the strategic realities of nuclear weapons, Dr Geiss found the firsthand account deeply moving, emphasizing the urgent need for disarmament. He also received a special tour guided by a historian at the museum and learned details on the atomic bombings in Nagasaki and its consequences, through numerous exhibits of artifacts, photographs and illustrative models.
At a public lecture hosted by RECNA, Dr Geiss delivered remarks on The Importance of Dialogue for Peace and Disarmament. Drawing from UNIDIR’s own engagement practices, he highlighted that while dialogue is essential, it must be thoughtfully facilitated.
Dialogue without listening can become a ‘dialogue of the deaf.’ We must work to ensure that voices from across generations, cultures, and ideologies are truly heard.
Dr Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director
He warned of rising geopolitical tensions and the breakdown of critical diplomatic communication channels, particularly among nuclear-armed states.
Dialogue is not a luxury; it is a necessity—especially in a world where parallel realities and strategic mistrust threaten to bring us closer to catastrophe.
Dr Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director
On Thursday, 22 May, UNIDIR Director paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Nagasaki Shiro Suzuki at Nagasaki City Hall to discuss avenues for collaboration. During their meeting, they exchanged views on strengthening partnerships and pursuing joint research initiatives focused on the global elimination of nuclear weapons, reaffirming their shared commitment to a peaceful, nuclear-free world.
In the course of his official visit to Japan 🇯🇵, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss was pleased to meet with the Mayor of Nagasaki, Hon. Shiro Suzuki, to discuss our shared mission of working towards a world free of nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/ePi4xsdLkN
— United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (@UNIDIR) May 22, 2025
Deepening engagement in Hiroshima
On the last couple days of his visit, Dr Geiss visited Hiroshima, where he met with local leaders, including Mayor Kazumi Matsui at Hiroshima City Hall. Together, they explored opportunities for cooperation, brought together by a shared resolve to honour Hiroshima’s profound legacy. The mayor offered a future venue for UNIDIR’s activities in Hiroshima to conduct and promote collaborative research and education in the area of peace and disarmament. The meeting served as a powerful reminder of their joint mission: to transform remembrance into lasting peace for future generations.
UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss visited Hiroshima 🇯🇵, the final stop of his official visit to Japan, where he met with Mayor Hon. Kazumi Matsui to discuss potential areas for cooperation 🤝 pic.twitter.com/xssOZlgdrB
— United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (@UNIDIR) May 23, 2025
UNIDIR Director was honoured to meet with Shigeaki and Kayoko Mori during a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Their meeting held special significance, as UNIDIR had earlier in 2024 hosted a screening of Paper Lanterns, the moving documentary that chronicles Mr Mori’s decades-long quest to identify 12 American prisoners of war killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. His efforts not only uncovered long-lost histories but also brought healing and closure to the victims’ families.
While in Hiroshima, Dr Geiss met with the Director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Yoshifumi Ishida, who offered him a personal guided tour of the museum. Dr Geiss also visited the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and explored opportunities for future collaboration in meetings with its Chair/Representative Director Kenji Kamiya and its Executive Director and Vice Chair Preetha Rajaraman.
He received informative briefings on their research organization, a unique US-Japan research centre which has studied the effects of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for nearly 80 years. Dr Geiss also met with Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Hiroshima Office, Chisa Mikami, and explored possibilities for cooperation between the two institutes.
Finally, UNIDIR Director delivered a lecture to students and engaged in discussions with local researchers at events organized by the Hiroshima Peace Research and Education Organization, where he spoke about the state of nuclear disarmament in the world and the significance of communicating on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, as experienced by Hiroshima.
Thereafter, Dr Geiss discussed extensively with professors and researchers from Hiroshima University and the City University of Hiroshima, which comprise the above-mentioned organization, with a view to identifying areas and activities for collaboration in research and education in the field of peace and disarmament.
A call to global action
As the international community reflects on eight decades since the dawn of the nuclear age, UNIDIR’s mission remains clear: to provide rigorous research and support practical solutions that reduce risks and build lasting security.
The Director’s visit served as a compelling reminder of the stakes and possibilities of disarmament work today. Whether addressing the governance of emerging technologies or the enduring threat of nuclear weapons, UNIDIR continues to advocate for informed and forward-looking dialogue.
Dialogue is not an end in itself, but a path toward building trust, understanding, and ultimately, a safer and more secure world.
Dr Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director
UNIDIR expresses its sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan, local institutions in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and all its partners for their support in advancing disarmament research and action through this meaningful and timely visit.