Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 not awarded to peace groups in Japan
Oct. 6, 2018
by Junji Akechi, Kyosuke Mizukawa, and Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writers
On October 5, the High School Student Peace Ambassadors, who had been recommended as a candidate for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, gathered at a hotel in Higashi Ward, Hiroshima to watch the announcement of the prize. Though the ambassadors were not awarded the prize, they gained fresh motivation to continue their efforts to help abolish nuclear arms.
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), another candidate for the prize, was not selected either, but the A-bomb survivors recommitted themselves to the goal of realizing nuclear abolition.
Ten people, including three current high school peace ambassadors and former ambassadors, came together to watch a live webcast of the announcement over the Internet. When they learned that they had not been awarded the prize, Nemi Kubota, 16, a second-year student at Numata High School and a resident of Asaminami Ward, said with a smile, “I was just glad that we were nominated as a candidate for the prize.” Riko Shitakubo, 16, a second-year student at Norte Dame Seishin Junior and Senior High School and a resident of Nishi Ward, said, “This was a chance for me to reaffirm my desire to help realize nuclear abolition.” Yuki Kaihara, 16, a second-year student at Fukuyama Akenohoshi Girls’ Junior and Senior High School and resident of Fukuyama, said enthusiastically, “Regardless of the result, I want to keep on doing my best in my activities as an ambassador so that the progress made through the efforts of our former ambassadors can continue.”
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 76, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), waited for the announcement at the group’s office in Naka Ward. After the announcement, Mr. Mimaki offered his congratulations to this year’s winners. He said with conviction, “When war breaks out, women and children become the most vulnerable victims. As a message from Hiroshima, I hope this year’s prize will lead to resolving human rights issues such as sexual violence against women.”
Terumi Tanaka, 86, the co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), responded to the media about the result from the group’s office in Minato Ward, Tokyo. He said, “Just last year we had a special occasion when the prize was awarded for the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” He added, “In order to get the number of nuclear weapons down to zero, we will make steady efforts so that more nations will ratify the treaty.”
(Originally published on October 6, 2018)
On October 5, the High School Student Peace Ambassadors, who had been recommended as a candidate for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, gathered at a hotel in Higashi Ward, Hiroshima to watch the announcement of the prize. Though the ambassadors were not awarded the prize, they gained fresh motivation to continue their efforts to help abolish nuclear arms.
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), another candidate for the prize, was not selected either, but the A-bomb survivors recommitted themselves to the goal of realizing nuclear abolition.
Ten people, including three current high school peace ambassadors and former ambassadors, came together to watch a live webcast of the announcement over the Internet. When they learned that they had not been awarded the prize, Nemi Kubota, 16, a second-year student at Numata High School and a resident of Asaminami Ward, said with a smile, “I was just glad that we were nominated as a candidate for the prize.” Riko Shitakubo, 16, a second-year student at Norte Dame Seishin Junior and Senior High School and a resident of Nishi Ward, said, “This was a chance for me to reaffirm my desire to help realize nuclear abolition.” Yuki Kaihara, 16, a second-year student at Fukuyama Akenohoshi Girls’ Junior and Senior High School and resident of Fukuyama, said enthusiastically, “Regardless of the result, I want to keep on doing my best in my activities as an ambassador so that the progress made through the efforts of our former ambassadors can continue.”
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 76, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), waited for the announcement at the group’s office in Naka Ward. After the announcement, Mr. Mimaki offered his congratulations to this year’s winners. He said with conviction, “When war breaks out, women and children become the most vulnerable victims. As a message from Hiroshima, I hope this year’s prize will lead to resolving human rights issues such as sexual violence against women.”
Terumi Tanaka, 86, the co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), responded to the media about the result from the group’s office in Minato Ward, Tokyo. He said, “Just last year we had a special occasion when the prize was awarded for the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” He added, “In order to get the number of nuclear weapons down to zero, we will make steady efforts so that more nations will ratify the treaty.”
(Originally published on October 6, 2018)
