A-bomb survivors from Tokyo meet with victims of Fukushima nuclear accident, share concerns on nuclear issues
Oct. 26, 2015
by Kazuaki Yamamoto, Staff Writer
About 30 atomic bomb survivors living in Tokyo went to Fukushima Prefecture on October 21 and met with people affected by the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The trip was organized by the Tokyo Federation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Toyukai) in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings. It was the first such program in which Toyukai members could share their feelings with victims of the nuclear power plant accident and discuss nuclear issues.
The Toyukai group met with six former residents of the town of Naraha, where the evacuation order was lifted in September. The gathering took place in the meeting hall at temporary housing in the city of Iwaki. The six disaster victims discussed their concerns about radiation and the future, with some noting that they couldn’t take their children back to Naraha because radiation levels remain high in some places.
While interjecting accounts of their atomic bombing experiences, the survivors talked about the prejudice and discrimination they have suffered and noted that the problem of how to convey the facts of the atomic bombing remains a major challenge. Some of the survivors urged the Fukushima residents to make a record of their experiences after the nuclear disaster and to recount their experiences to others.
After the meeting, Kiyoko Mizuno, 87, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, said, “I felt that we could encourage each other as fellow victims of radiation. I hope we can stay in touch.” Disaster victim Chieko Hayakawa, 72, said, “I felt hopeful that our town can someday recover just as Hiroshima and Nagasaki did.”
The visit to Fukushima was scheduled to end on October 22 with a trip through the town of Tomioka and other areas in the evacuation zone.
(Originally published on October 22, 2015)
About 30 atomic bomb survivors living in Tokyo went to Fukushima Prefecture on October 21 and met with people affected by the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The trip was organized by the Tokyo Federation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Toyukai) in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings. It was the first such program in which Toyukai members could share their feelings with victims of the nuclear power plant accident and discuss nuclear issues.
The Toyukai group met with six former residents of the town of Naraha, where the evacuation order was lifted in September. The gathering took place in the meeting hall at temporary housing in the city of Iwaki. The six disaster victims discussed their concerns about radiation and the future, with some noting that they couldn’t take their children back to Naraha because radiation levels remain high in some places.
While interjecting accounts of their atomic bombing experiences, the survivors talked about the prejudice and discrimination they have suffered and noted that the problem of how to convey the facts of the atomic bombing remains a major challenge. Some of the survivors urged the Fukushima residents to make a record of their experiences after the nuclear disaster and to recount their experiences to others.
After the meeting, Kiyoko Mizuno, 87, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, said, “I felt that we could encourage each other as fellow victims of radiation. I hope we can stay in touch.” Disaster victim Chieko Hayakawa, 72, said, “I felt hopeful that our town can someday recover just as Hiroshima and Nagasaki did.”
The visit to Fukushima was scheduled to end on October 22 with a trip through the town of Tomioka and other areas in the evacuation zone.
(Originally published on October 22, 2015)
