Hiroshima Prefecture issues A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to six applicants in South Korea
Nov. 4, 2013
by Masaki Kadowaki, Staff Writer
On October 28, it was learned that Hiroshima Prefecture will issue the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to six applicants in South Korea. The prefectural government had dispatched its officials to South Korea to determine whether or not these six South Korean men and women were eligible. Through personal interviews, and other checks, the prefectural government has confirmed that their accounts are credible. On the same day, the applicants were provided with documents informing them of this result. It is the first time that the prefectural government has dispatched officials overseas to conduct on-site interviews and begin issuing the certificate after the assessment is made.
The six survivors, ranging in age from 68 to 83, are siblings from two families (three siblings from each family), who live in and around Busan. One group of siblings applied to Hiroshima Prefecture, stating that they were exposed to the atomic bombing in Kogokita-machi (now part of Nishi Ward), a distance of 3.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. The other siblings also applied to Hiroshima Prefecture, stating that they were exposed to the bombing in Gion-cho (now part of Asaminami Ward), a distance of 4.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Their applications were submitted in March and July of this year. But because the eldest siblings of both families, who remember the time most clearly, are hard of hearing, it was difficult to confirm details of their applications by telephone. Therefore the prefectural government dispatched two officials to South Korea from October 7 to 9.
In South Korea, the officials conducted a three-hour interview with each group to confirm 15 items, including the destruction to their home and its environs in the wake of the atomic bombing, how they spent the day of August 6, and the composition of the school they were attending at the time. Their responses were highly consistent with the contents of documents that Hiroshima Prefecture and the City of Hiroshima have amassed over the years. Although no witnesses were available to confirm their claims, the Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division of Hiroshima Prefecture concluded that the prefectural government was able to determine, in a comprehensive manner, that they had been exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
As a rule, applicants must travel to Japan to receive the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate, and their travel expenses are borne by the central government.
Nagasaki Prefecture and Nagasaki City have issued the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to about 60 people after dispatching their officials to sites overseas, if they found it difficult to interview the applicants by telephone. The Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division of Hiroshima Prefecture said, “Sixty eight years have passed since the atomic bombing, and the A-bomb survivors are growing old. The prefectural government is responding to them in a sympathetic way, from the viewpoint of the survivors.”
(Originally published on October 29, 2013)
On October 28, it was learned that Hiroshima Prefecture will issue the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to six applicants in South Korea. The prefectural government had dispatched its officials to South Korea to determine whether or not these six South Korean men and women were eligible. Through personal interviews, and other checks, the prefectural government has confirmed that their accounts are credible. On the same day, the applicants were provided with documents informing them of this result. It is the first time that the prefectural government has dispatched officials overseas to conduct on-site interviews and begin issuing the certificate after the assessment is made.
The six survivors, ranging in age from 68 to 83, are siblings from two families (three siblings from each family), who live in and around Busan. One group of siblings applied to Hiroshima Prefecture, stating that they were exposed to the atomic bombing in Kogokita-machi (now part of Nishi Ward), a distance of 3.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. The other siblings also applied to Hiroshima Prefecture, stating that they were exposed to the bombing in Gion-cho (now part of Asaminami Ward), a distance of 4.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Their applications were submitted in March and July of this year. But because the eldest siblings of both families, who remember the time most clearly, are hard of hearing, it was difficult to confirm details of their applications by telephone. Therefore the prefectural government dispatched two officials to South Korea from October 7 to 9.
In South Korea, the officials conducted a three-hour interview with each group to confirm 15 items, including the destruction to their home and its environs in the wake of the atomic bombing, how they spent the day of August 6, and the composition of the school they were attending at the time. Their responses were highly consistent with the contents of documents that Hiroshima Prefecture and the City of Hiroshima have amassed over the years. Although no witnesses were available to confirm their claims, the Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division of Hiroshima Prefecture concluded that the prefectural government was able to determine, in a comprehensive manner, that they had been exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
As a rule, applicants must travel to Japan to receive the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate, and their travel expenses are borne by the central government.
Nagasaki Prefecture and Nagasaki City have issued the A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to about 60 people after dispatching their officials to sites overseas, if they found it difficult to interview the applicants by telephone. The Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division of Hiroshima Prefecture said, “Sixty eight years have passed since the atomic bombing, and the A-bomb survivors are growing old. The prefectural government is responding to them in a sympathetic way, from the viewpoint of the survivors.”
(Originally published on October 29, 2013)
