Survey reveals future of nation’s organizations of A-bomb survivors
Jul. 23, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writers
The Chugoku Shimbun has carried out a survey on the future plans of organizations of A-bomb survivors in five prefectures in the Chugoku region as well as organizations of A-bomb survivors in other prefectures in Japan. Among the 108 organizations that responded to the survey, 59 organizations (54.6%) expressed the intent to continue the group’s activities with the support of children and family members of A-bomb survivors, while 27 organizations (25.0%) indicated that their group would dissolve when there are no survivors left. The survey results show how the fates of A-bomb survivors’ groups will diverge in the future.
With regard to the future, 23 prefectural organizations and 36 local organizations answered that they would “continue their existence by bringing in children and family members of A-bomb survivors” while nine prefectural and 18 local organizations said they would “disband or cease to exist when the survivors are gone.” Seven organizations said they would “have another organization take over their activities.” The remaining 14 organizations ticked “other” which includes the idea of merging with another group.
The survey was conducted for the third year in a row. Compared to 2015, the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the number of groups that said they have no choice but to disband or cease to exist has decreased by about 11 percentage points, and groups that said they could count on the support of children and family members of A-bomb survivors have increased by about 15 points. Such results may be influenced by the fact that there are already a string of organizations that have disbanded since the survey was first conducted in 2015.
Forty-four organizations said they “have organizations formed by the children of survivors” either inside or outside their group. Although 63 organizations answered that they have no such group, 22 (35%) said they “have a plan to form a group of second-generation survivors.” This suggests more groups will be established by the children of A-bomb survivors in the future.
On the other hand, 33 out of 41 organizations (80%) that have no group of second-generation survivors said they “could not find anyone to take over their activities, despite their desire to continue to function.” Groups in sparsely populated regions in the mountains or islands find it especially difficult to hand down their work to younger generations to maintain their existence.
Since 2016, at least seven local groups, including those in Fuchu and the Innoshima area of Onomichi, have either disbanded or merged with other groups in the Chugoku region. While the survey did not confirm the recent folding of a prefectural group, one group in Fukushima and Gunma prefectures was unable to return the questionnaire due to the health condition of the person overseeing its activities. As of the end of March 2017, the number of people who hold the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totals 164,621, including overseas residents, and their average age is 81.41.
As for the treaty which bans nuclear weapons that was adopted at United Nations headquarters on July 7, 101 organizations evaluated it as “meaningful.” And 103 organizations called on the Japanese government, which did not take part in the treaty negotiations, to join the agreement.
About the survey
Questionnaires were handed out or sent by mail in June. After the responses were received, a telephone interview was conducted. The nationwide survey involved 40 organizations, comprising Nihon Hidankyo; the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma); and the Tsuruoka Survivors Association in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture (Yamagata Prefecture has no prefectural organization). A total of 42 organizations answered the questionnaire. In the Chugoku region, 66 local organizations making up the prefectural organizations responded to the survey. A total of 121 organizations responded to the survey in 2015 and 115 organizations in 2016.
(Originally published on July 23, 2017)
The Chugoku Shimbun has carried out a survey on the future plans of organizations of A-bomb survivors in five prefectures in the Chugoku region as well as organizations of A-bomb survivors in other prefectures in Japan. Among the 108 organizations that responded to the survey, 59 organizations (54.6%) expressed the intent to continue the group’s activities with the support of children and family members of A-bomb survivors, while 27 organizations (25.0%) indicated that their group would dissolve when there are no survivors left. The survey results show how the fates of A-bomb survivors’ groups will diverge in the future.
With regard to the future, 23 prefectural organizations and 36 local organizations answered that they would “continue their existence by bringing in children and family members of A-bomb survivors” while nine prefectural and 18 local organizations said they would “disband or cease to exist when the survivors are gone.” Seven organizations said they would “have another organization take over their activities.” The remaining 14 organizations ticked “other” which includes the idea of merging with another group.
The survey was conducted for the third year in a row. Compared to 2015, the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the number of groups that said they have no choice but to disband or cease to exist has decreased by about 11 percentage points, and groups that said they could count on the support of children and family members of A-bomb survivors have increased by about 15 points. Such results may be influenced by the fact that there are already a string of organizations that have disbanded since the survey was first conducted in 2015.
Forty-four organizations said they “have organizations formed by the children of survivors” either inside or outside their group. Although 63 organizations answered that they have no such group, 22 (35%) said they “have a plan to form a group of second-generation survivors.” This suggests more groups will be established by the children of A-bomb survivors in the future.
On the other hand, 33 out of 41 organizations (80%) that have no group of second-generation survivors said they “could not find anyone to take over their activities, despite their desire to continue to function.” Groups in sparsely populated regions in the mountains or islands find it especially difficult to hand down their work to younger generations to maintain their existence.
Since 2016, at least seven local groups, including those in Fuchu and the Innoshima area of Onomichi, have either disbanded or merged with other groups in the Chugoku region. While the survey did not confirm the recent folding of a prefectural group, one group in Fukushima and Gunma prefectures was unable to return the questionnaire due to the health condition of the person overseeing its activities. As of the end of March 2017, the number of people who hold the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totals 164,621, including overseas residents, and their average age is 81.41.
As for the treaty which bans nuclear weapons that was adopted at United Nations headquarters on July 7, 101 organizations evaluated it as “meaningful.” And 103 organizations called on the Japanese government, which did not take part in the treaty negotiations, to join the agreement.
About the survey
Questionnaires were handed out or sent by mail in June. After the responses were received, a telephone interview was conducted. The nationwide survey involved 40 organizations, comprising Nihon Hidankyo; the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma); and the Tsuruoka Survivors Association in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture (Yamagata Prefecture has no prefectural organization). A total of 42 organizations answered the questionnaire. In the Chugoku region, 66 local organizations making up the prefectural organizations responded to the survey. A total of 121 organizations responded to the survey in 2015 and 115 organizations in 2016.
(Originally published on July 23, 2017)
