Survivors’ groups demand that health minister improve A-bomb disease certification criteria
Jan. 29, 2015
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
A regular meeting to discuss concerns involving the A-bomb disease certification system was held on January 15 at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The participants of this meeting included Health Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki and members of A-bomb survivors’ groups, including the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo). Mr. Shiozaki stressed that more survivors have been certified in cases other than cancer under the new criteria adopted in December 2013. He said he will continue to monitor how the new criteria is applied. Survivors, who are calling for fundamental reforms to the system, rejected the minister’s response, saying it did not address their requests.
A total of 15 people represented the survivors’ side at the meeting, with representatives from Hidankyo, the nationwide group of plaintiffs involved in the class action lawsuits over A-bomb disease certification, and a nationwide group of lawyers who are supporting these lawsuits. About 100 people, mostly survivors, observed the proceedings. Terumi Tanaka, 82, the secretary general of Hidankyo, demanded that politicians take the lead in improving the system. He said to Mr. Shiozaki, “The new criteria have failed to bridge the gap between the judicial rulings and the government administration. Lawmakers are expected to respond to our requests.”
Mr. Shiozaki said that the number of applications in cases other than cancer was 570, and 169 cases were recognized as A-bomb diseases in 2014, about 3.4 and 6.3 times greater than those of the previous year, respectively. Citing these statistics, he argued that the certification system has been improved in cases other than cancer.
Meanwhile, Hideto Matsuura, 69, an executive board member of Hidankyo, said, “More than 100 survivors have taken legal action.” Based on the fact that the government has lost many class-action suits, Yukihiko Yasuhara, the vice president of the group of lawyers, criticized the government, saying, “This is not a fair system if only those who can afford to resort to legal action can be saved.”
Mr. Shiozaki replied, “I will take this criticism to heart.” But he reiterated that he would like to see how the new criteria fares under his watch.
Based on an agreement Hidankyo reached with the government, regular meetings are supposed to be held in an effort to end the class action lawsuits over A-bomb disease certification. The latest meeting was the fourth such gathering and was held for the first time in one year and four months.
(Originally published on January 16, 2015)
A regular meeting to discuss concerns involving the A-bomb disease certification system was held on January 15 at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The participants of this meeting included Health Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki and members of A-bomb survivors’ groups, including the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo). Mr. Shiozaki stressed that more survivors have been certified in cases other than cancer under the new criteria adopted in December 2013. He said he will continue to monitor how the new criteria is applied. Survivors, who are calling for fundamental reforms to the system, rejected the minister’s response, saying it did not address their requests.
A total of 15 people represented the survivors’ side at the meeting, with representatives from Hidankyo, the nationwide group of plaintiffs involved in the class action lawsuits over A-bomb disease certification, and a nationwide group of lawyers who are supporting these lawsuits. About 100 people, mostly survivors, observed the proceedings. Terumi Tanaka, 82, the secretary general of Hidankyo, demanded that politicians take the lead in improving the system. He said to Mr. Shiozaki, “The new criteria have failed to bridge the gap between the judicial rulings and the government administration. Lawmakers are expected to respond to our requests.”
Mr. Shiozaki said that the number of applications in cases other than cancer was 570, and 169 cases were recognized as A-bomb diseases in 2014, about 3.4 and 6.3 times greater than those of the previous year, respectively. Citing these statistics, he argued that the certification system has been improved in cases other than cancer.
Meanwhile, Hideto Matsuura, 69, an executive board member of Hidankyo, said, “More than 100 survivors have taken legal action.” Based on the fact that the government has lost many class-action suits, Yukihiko Yasuhara, the vice president of the group of lawyers, criticized the government, saying, “This is not a fair system if only those who can afford to resort to legal action can be saved.”
Mr. Shiozaki replied, “I will take this criticism to heart.” But he reiterated that he would like to see how the new criteria fares under his watch.
Based on an agreement Hidankyo reached with the government, regular meetings are supposed to be held in an effort to end the class action lawsuits over A-bomb disease certification. The latest meeting was the fourth such gathering and was held for the first time in one year and four months.
(Originally published on January 16, 2015)
