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Lawsuit considered to allow A-bomb survivors to apply for A-bomb disease certification from overseas

by Kanako Noda, Staff Writer

It was learned on February 20 that A-bomb survivors (hibakusha) living overseas and their supporters are considering filing a lawsuit to enable applications for A-bomb disease certification to be submitted from abroad. This possibility was revealed by hibakusha supporters at the debriefing which followed oral proceedings in the appeal over obtaining the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate by survivors in Brazil.

Kazuyuki Tamura, a professor at Ryukoku University Law School, has been providing assistance to hibakusha overseas who have filed lawsuits. He indicated that a new lawsuit may be pursued, stating, “Though a firm decision has not yet been made, a new lawsuit might be necessary.” He is hoping to achieve an early settlement of this issue involving A-bomb survivors abroad, arguing that “allowing applications for A-bomb disease certification from overseas will bring them access to medical relief measures.”

Recently, the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law was revised to allow hibakusha to apply for the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate from overseas. Although the criteria for A-bomb disease certification have been relaxed, too, survivors living overseas must still travel to Japan to submit their paperwork.

On February 17, at a meeting hosted by a bipartisan group of Diet members, A-bomb survivors from the United States, South Korea, and Brazil requested that the Japanese government allow applications for A-bomb disease certification from overseas, too. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, though, only offered that “the ministry is considering a system of cooperation with Japanese embassies and consulates and other entities.”

(Originally published on February 21, 2009)


 
A-bomb survivors from overseas request revision of the application process for A-bomb disease certification

by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer

At a meeting of a bipartisan group of Diet members held in Tokyo on February 17, A-bomb survivors from the United States, South Korea, and Brazil requested that the Japanese government be willing to receive applications for A-bomb disease certification from overseas.

Four A-bomb survivors from the three countries, Diet members, and officials from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare took part in the meeting. Takashi Morita, 84, chairman of the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors, expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that the application procedure for A-bomb disease certification requires a trip to Japan. He urged the Japanese government to allow applications from overseas as soon as possible, saying, “Hibakusha overseas are unable to receive health benefits. We want to be given the same sort of support as hibakusha in Japan.”

The recent revision of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law now enables applications for the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate to be filed from overseas. Although criteria for A-bomb disease certification have been relaxed, too, hibakusha are still not permitted to apply for this certification from overseas. Officials from the Ministry of Welfare would only state that “the ministry is considering a system of cooperation with Japanese embassies and consulates and other entities.”

Kim Yong Gil, 69, president of the South Korean Atomic Bomb Sufferers Association, and Atsushi Endo, 79, president of the Committee of A-bomb Survivors in the U.S.A., also requested improvements in state compensation and medical expense subsidies.

(Originally published on February 18, 2009)

Related articles
Interview with Takashi Morita, chairman of the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors (Feb. 7, 2009)
Hurdles remain for issuing the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to survivors overseas (Feb. 5, 2009)
Revised law enables A-bomb survivors overseas to obtain Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificates in their home countries (Dec. 21, 2008)

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