The mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima petitioned Prime Minister Taro Aso on Wednesday not to hold the general election on the Aug. 9 anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, amid speculation the poll will be held in August.
"Aug. 9 is the day for us to pray (for the victims of the blast) and an important day for us to campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons," Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue told reporters after meeting with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsuhito Asano at the prime minister's office.
Taue quoted Asano as replying: "A decision on when to hold an election is the prime minister's exclusive right and any specific schedule on the election has yet to be fixed, but I will convey your words (to Aso)."