A-bomb survivors mark 60th anniversary of group’s founding
Aug. 9, 2016
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
On August 8, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) held an event in Nagasaki to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its founding. After reflecting on the steps they have taken to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons, and appealing for national compensation for the damage suffered by survivors, the participants vowed, “We are determined to continue doing our best to realize our earnest aims, even if our membership dwindles to only one.”
About 70 people, including representatives of A-bomb survivors’ organizations across Japan and their supporters, took part in the event. Terumi Tanaka, 84, the secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, traced their work over the past 60 years by showing slides of their activities, such as conveying accounts of their A-bomb experiences and pursuing signature drives in and out of Japan.
Mr. Tanaka also mentioned growing international support for a legal ban on nuclear weapons, saying, “We are standing at an important time. We would like to initiate grassroots campaigns for nuclear abolition in the nuclear weapon states, too.” He urged the participants to help with the international signature drive that the group proposed in March which seeks to advance a global agreement to ban and eliminate nuclear arms.
A-bomb survivors who gathered from various locations stepped forward, one after another, to speak. Because of the advancing age of their members, many survivors’ organizations are finding it difficult to sustain their activities. Still, they encouraged each other, saying such things as “Thanks to the efforts made by our predecessors, we can live in these current conditions. We should continue to do our best, as long as we live” and “We must go on raising our voices so that the world produces no more hibakusha.”
Nihon Hidankyo is a confederation comprised of A-bomb survivors’ organizations from each Japanese prefecture. The organization was established on August 10, 1956 in the city of Nagasaki. It will hold a commemorative event in Tokyo on October 12.
(Originally published on August 9, 2016)
On August 8, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) held an event in Nagasaki to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its founding. After reflecting on the steps they have taken to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons, and appealing for national compensation for the damage suffered by survivors, the participants vowed, “We are determined to continue doing our best to realize our earnest aims, even if our membership dwindles to only one.”
About 70 people, including representatives of A-bomb survivors’ organizations across Japan and their supporters, took part in the event. Terumi Tanaka, 84, the secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, traced their work over the past 60 years by showing slides of their activities, such as conveying accounts of their A-bomb experiences and pursuing signature drives in and out of Japan.
Mr. Tanaka also mentioned growing international support for a legal ban on nuclear weapons, saying, “We are standing at an important time. We would like to initiate grassroots campaigns for nuclear abolition in the nuclear weapon states, too.” He urged the participants to help with the international signature drive that the group proposed in March which seeks to advance a global agreement to ban and eliminate nuclear arms.
A-bomb survivors who gathered from various locations stepped forward, one after another, to speak. Because of the advancing age of their members, many survivors’ organizations are finding it difficult to sustain their activities. Still, they encouraged each other, saying such things as “Thanks to the efforts made by our predecessors, we can live in these current conditions. We should continue to do our best, as long as we live” and “We must go on raising our voices so that the world produces no more hibakusha.”
Nihon Hidankyo is a confederation comprised of A-bomb survivors’ organizations from each Japanese prefecture. The organization was established on August 10, 1956 in the city of Nagasaki. It will hold a commemorative event in Tokyo on October 12.
(Originally published on August 9, 2016)
