People campaigning in Hiroshima have started collecting signatures to urge the Japanese government to sign and ratify the UN treaty banning nuclear arms. The treaty will come into force in January.

A group of about 30 people appealed for support near Peace Memorial Park in the western city on Saturday. Visitors were seen responding to their calls.

Protesters in Nagasaki held a monthly sit-in protest, calling on Japan to ratify the UN nuclear ban treaty.

About 90 people, including survivors of the US nuclear bombing of Nagasaki in 1945, gathered at the city's Peace Park on Monday.

The mayor of Nagasaki City has repeated his call for the Japanese government to ratify the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.

Mayor Taue Tomihisa said he wants the government to attend a signatories' meeting as an observer if it is difficult for Japan to ratify the treaty.