India, Aug. 6 -- Every year since 1947 and 1955, respectively, on August 6 and 9, Japan solemnly commemorates the nuclear devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. These anniversaries witness reflection, remembrances, and renewed appeals for nuclear disarmament. Survivors of the bombings, political leaders, and international representatives gather for memorial ceremonies and recall the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare.

The 2026 anniversaries come at a time of strategic transition. Japan's security environment has deteriorated significantly, raising a fundamental question: Are Japan's responses to these challenges altering its pacifist identity?

Since the end of World War II, Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution embodi...