Antinuclear groups hold rallies in Shizuoka to commemorate the Bikini Incident
Mar. 17, 2016
by Kazuaki Yamamoto, Staff Writer
March 1 marked the 62nd year from the day when crew members of a fishing boat from Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, called the Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), were exposed to radioactive fallout from a hydrogen bomb test performed by the United States. On this day, the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and other organizations held a national Bikini Day rally in the city of Shizuoka. About 200 people took part in the event.
In his address, Koichi Kawano, the chairman of Gensuikin, spoke about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in addition to Bikini Day, saying, “People who don’t know the past cannot build the future. We must strengthen our campaign starting from today.” Tadatoshi Akiba, the former mayor of Hiroshima, presented the global efforts taking place to advance nuclear disarmament, and urged on the participants by saying, “Let us exert international leadership in order to realize the abolition of nuclear weapons while the A-bomb survivors are still living.”
The participants adopted an appeal with such pledges as “Let us strengthen our efforts for eliminating nuclear weapons, ending the use of nuclear energy, and supporting and uniting with the A-bomb survivors.” Prior to the rally, about 50 people visited Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu to offer incense for Aikichi Kuboyama, the boat’s radio operator who was exposed to radioactive fallout and died in the aftermath.
On the same day, the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, in which the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) is involved, held a Bikini Day rally in the city of Yaizu. Before the rally, about 1,500 people marched through the city, appealing for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on March 2, 2016)
March 1 marked the 62nd year from the day when crew members of a fishing boat from Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, called the Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), were exposed to radioactive fallout from a hydrogen bomb test performed by the United States. On this day, the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and other organizations held a national Bikini Day rally in the city of Shizuoka. About 200 people took part in the event.
In his address, Koichi Kawano, the chairman of Gensuikin, spoke about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in addition to Bikini Day, saying, “People who don’t know the past cannot build the future. We must strengthen our campaign starting from today.” Tadatoshi Akiba, the former mayor of Hiroshima, presented the global efforts taking place to advance nuclear disarmament, and urged on the participants by saying, “Let us exert international leadership in order to realize the abolition of nuclear weapons while the A-bomb survivors are still living.”
The participants adopted an appeal with such pledges as “Let us strengthen our efforts for eliminating nuclear weapons, ending the use of nuclear energy, and supporting and uniting with the A-bomb survivors.” Prior to the rally, about 50 people visited Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu to offer incense for Aikichi Kuboyama, the boat’s radio operator who was exposed to radioactive fallout and died in the aftermath.
On the same day, the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, in which the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) is involved, held a Bikini Day rally in the city of Yaizu. Before the rally, about 1,500 people marched through the city, appealing for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on March 2, 2016)
