Hiroshima residents express anger, concern over Russia’s attack on nuclear power plant in Ukraine, condemning act as entirely unacceptable
Mar. 5, 2022
by Junji Akechi, Kana Kobayashi, Yuji Yamamoto, and Teramoto Natsumi, Staff Writers
Russian military forces that invaded Ukraine have gone so far as to target a nuclear power facility in an attack. Russia’s shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest power-generation station in Ukraine, represents a situation with the potential for creation of new nuclear victims in wartime. In the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, atomic bomb survivors have voiced anger and concern, and residents living in areas within the Chugoku region where nuclear power plants are located or planned to be built are also expressing their unease.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant comprises six total reactors, of which several were operating at the time of Russia’s attack. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 79, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), said with exasperation, “The attack was an erratic act. If the nuclear plant had been destroyed, it could have contaminated the entire European region including Russia, with members of the public and children suffering the most. It is entirely unacceptable.”
Kunihiko Sakuma, 77, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, expressed outrage. “I cannot forgive the invasion, but I will never be able tolerate the fact that Russia targeted a nuclear power plant in an attack.” Mr. Sakuma argued that, “We must force Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine to prevent the repeat of a situation akin to that experienced by Hiroshima, in which people suffer damage from radiation exposure including no longer being able to live in their own homes.”
A-bomb survivors who traveled to Ukraine in the past are worried about the fate of the Ukrainians with whom they had interactions. In 2004, Hiromu Morishita, 91, an A-bomb survivor and a resident of Hiroshima’s Saeki Ward, visited the city of Kharkov and other locations as a delegate representing the Hiroshima World Peace Mission to communicate to people there about the devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At the time of the visit, Mr. Morishita recounted his experience in the atomic bombing to university students, as well as shared his experiences of suffering with victims of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident as fellow “hibakusha,” or those affected by radiation exposure.
Observing media coverage of the current situation of tormented Ukrainian citizens, Mr. Morishita persists in worrying about their well-being. “Nuclear damage affects human health and economies over the long term, destroying lives in the process,” he said. “I would not be able to withstand a repeat of Hiroshima’s tragedy. Stop it already.” With anger showing on his gentle countenance, Mr. Morishita called for the earliest possible ceasefire.
Lee Jong Geun, 93, a resident of Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward, lamented with mixed feelings of anger and frustration that, “Russia doesn’t understand the reality of exposure to radiation, which has brought such immeasurable suffering. Have they not heard the messages we’ve communicated for so long as A-bomb survivors?”
In 2012, Mr. Lee visited Ukraine at the time he participated in a boat trip organized by Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Tokyo. There, he visited the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and neighboring areas to which access has been restricted. He witnessed firsthand the reality of the nuclear power plant accident that continues to jeopardize residents’ daily lives and health 26 years later. “Why does Russia cause Ukraine so much distress?” questions Mr. Lee.
Meanwhile, in areas where nuclear power plants are located or are where their construction is planned, members of citizens’ groups opposed to the nuclear facilities feel increased uncertainty. Yasue Ashihara, head of a plaintiff group in a lawsuit seeking to halt operations of reactor No. 2 at the Chugoku Electric Cooperation’s Shimane nuclear power plant, located in Shimane Prefecture’s Matsue City, expressed concern. “I realized again the reality that once an international conflict begins, the sites on which nuclear power plants are located face immeasurable risk,” said Ms. Ashihara.
Susumu Konaka, 74, head of the civic group Yamaguchi Network Opposed to Nuclear Power, emphasized that, “It’s clear that nuclear power plants are vulnerable in cases of war and natural disaster.” Mr. Konaka also denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He lacks awareness about radiation risk,” said Mr. Konaka.
(Originally published on March 5, 2022)
Russian military forces that invaded Ukraine have gone so far as to target a nuclear power facility in an attack. Russia’s shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest power-generation station in Ukraine, represents a situation with the potential for creation of new nuclear victims in wartime. In the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, atomic bomb survivors have voiced anger and concern, and residents living in areas within the Chugoku region where nuclear power plants are located or planned to be built are also expressing their unease.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant comprises six total reactors, of which several were operating at the time of Russia’s attack. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 79, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), said with exasperation, “The attack was an erratic act. If the nuclear plant had been destroyed, it could have contaminated the entire European region including Russia, with members of the public and children suffering the most. It is entirely unacceptable.”
Kunihiko Sakuma, 77, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, expressed outrage. “I cannot forgive the invasion, but I will never be able tolerate the fact that Russia targeted a nuclear power plant in an attack.” Mr. Sakuma argued that, “We must force Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine to prevent the repeat of a situation akin to that experienced by Hiroshima, in which people suffer damage from radiation exposure including no longer being able to live in their own homes.”
A-bomb survivors who traveled to Ukraine in the past are worried about the fate of the Ukrainians with whom they had interactions. In 2004, Hiromu Morishita, 91, an A-bomb survivor and a resident of Hiroshima’s Saeki Ward, visited the city of Kharkov and other locations as a delegate representing the Hiroshima World Peace Mission to communicate to people there about the devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At the time of the visit, Mr. Morishita recounted his experience in the atomic bombing to university students, as well as shared his experiences of suffering with victims of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident as fellow “hibakusha,” or those affected by radiation exposure.
Observing media coverage of the current situation of tormented Ukrainian citizens, Mr. Morishita persists in worrying about their well-being. “Nuclear damage affects human health and economies over the long term, destroying lives in the process,” he said. “I would not be able to withstand a repeat of Hiroshima’s tragedy. Stop it already.” With anger showing on his gentle countenance, Mr. Morishita called for the earliest possible ceasefire.
Lee Jong Geun, 93, a resident of Hiroshima’s Asaminami Ward, lamented with mixed feelings of anger and frustration that, “Russia doesn’t understand the reality of exposure to radiation, which has brought such immeasurable suffering. Have they not heard the messages we’ve communicated for so long as A-bomb survivors?”
In 2012, Mr. Lee visited Ukraine at the time he participated in a boat trip organized by Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Tokyo. There, he visited the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and neighboring areas to which access has been restricted. He witnessed firsthand the reality of the nuclear power plant accident that continues to jeopardize residents’ daily lives and health 26 years later. “Why does Russia cause Ukraine so much distress?” questions Mr. Lee.
Meanwhile, in areas where nuclear power plants are located or are where their construction is planned, members of citizens’ groups opposed to the nuclear facilities feel increased uncertainty. Yasue Ashihara, head of a plaintiff group in a lawsuit seeking to halt operations of reactor No. 2 at the Chugoku Electric Cooperation’s Shimane nuclear power plant, located in Shimane Prefecture’s Matsue City, expressed concern. “I realized again the reality that once an international conflict begins, the sites on which nuclear power plants are located face immeasurable risk,” said Ms. Ashihara.
Susumu Konaka, 74, head of the civic group Yamaguchi Network Opposed to Nuclear Power, emphasized that, “It’s clear that nuclear power plants are vulnerable in cases of war and natural disaster.” Mr. Konaka also denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He lacks awareness about radiation risk,” said Mr. Konaka.
(Originally published on March 5, 2022)
