During a meeting with members of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba refrained from stating whether Japan would participate as an observer in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons consultation scheduled for March. When pressed on the issue, Ishiba did not provide a clear response, noting Japan's status as a nation under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and its decision not to sign the treaty.

Co-chair Terumi Tanaka expressed the organization's desire for Ishiba to reconvene with them after congratulating Hidankyo on their receipt of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, which he called a significant achievement. While acknowledging their efforts, Ishiba underscored Japan's commitment to nuclear deterrence given the nuclear ambitions of countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea, stating that the international landscape was extremely challenging.

Additionally, the Hidankyo representatives asked Ishiba for government compensation for hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombings, as well as support for other individuals affected by the bombing in Nagasaki in 1945 who are not recognized as hibakusha. Ishiba did not respond to this request either, leading Tanaka to voice her disappointment in the meeting's outcomes, indicating that it did not yield productive results for Hidankyo. This meeting marked Ishiba's first engagement with senior Hidankyo officials since assuming office in October of the previous year. Tetsuo Saito, the leader of Komeito, which is a junior partner in the ruling coalition, was also in attendance and had advocated for the meeting.