"An apology would be practical steps by the US to start negotiations for the achievement of the universal prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons," Rob van Riet said.
He added that "the call of the survivors of the atomic bombings [of Hiroshima and Nagasaki] — the hibakusha — for a world free of nuclear weapons has gone unanswered for seventy years now."
Van Riet stressed that no one should ever suffer like the Japanese people did.
The vast majority of Japanese — 74 percent of those polled by a Populus for Sputnik — believe that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not justified as it was apparent there would be massive civilian casualties.
Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,004 adults aged 18-64 in Japan between 29 July — 2 August, 2015. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all Japanese adults. Populus is a founder member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
