Number of A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate holders falls below 120,000, with average age now 84.53 years, according to Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare data
Jul. 2, 2022
by Koji Higuchi, Staff Writer
On July 1, data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed that the number of A-bomb survivors who hold an Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totaled 118,935 people, as of the end of March 2022, the first time that number has fallen below 120,000. The average age of the A-bomb survivors was 84.53, an increase of 0.59 years. With A-bomb survivor numbers falling by nearly 10,000 annually over the past few years, the challenge now is how to communicate their tragic experiences in the atomic bombing to succeeding generations.
The ministry compiled data from certificate holders managed by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as by all prefectures throughout Japan. The number of certificate holders declined by 8,820 over the past 12 months, from 127,755 as of the end of March last year. The total number of certificate holders is now less than one-third the largest-ever number of certificate holders documented, or 372,264 individuals, recorded at the end of March 1981. Of all certificate holders, 2,658 lived overseas, a decrease of 127 compared with the previous year.
A total of 39,590 individuals hold certificates managed by the Hiroshima City government, down 2,601 from a year ago, falling below 40,000. That group of certificate holders’ average age is 84.14 years, an increase of 0.66 years relative to the previous year. The number of certificate holders in Hiroshima Prefecture managed by the prefectural government fell by 1,241 people, to 14,375, with the average age being 86.14 years, an increase of 0.54 years compared with the previous year.
Regarding the number of A-bomb survivors throughout Japan receiving allowances related to the survivor certificates, 97,456 obtain health care allowances of 34,900 yen per month, which are paid when the survivors are stricken with specific diseases or medical conditions, a decline of 9,576 people relative to the previous year. Recipients obtaining special medical subsidies of 141,900 yen per month based on recognition of their suffering from A-bomb-related diseases totaled 6,062, a decrease of 916 individuals.
With respect to recognition of A-bomb survivor status, starting in April this year, the ministry has begun to provide A-bomb Survivor’s Certificates to those who were exposed to the “black rain” that fell after the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, based on new eligibility criteria. The number of those who have become newly eligible for the certificate as a result of the new criteria will be incorporated into the ministry’s data for next year.
(Originally published on July 2, 2022)
On July 1, data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed that the number of A-bomb survivors who hold an Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totaled 118,935 people, as of the end of March 2022, the first time that number has fallen below 120,000. The average age of the A-bomb survivors was 84.53, an increase of 0.59 years. With A-bomb survivor numbers falling by nearly 10,000 annually over the past few years, the challenge now is how to communicate their tragic experiences in the atomic bombing to succeeding generations.
The ministry compiled data from certificate holders managed by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as by all prefectures throughout Japan. The number of certificate holders declined by 8,820 over the past 12 months, from 127,755 as of the end of March last year. The total number of certificate holders is now less than one-third the largest-ever number of certificate holders documented, or 372,264 individuals, recorded at the end of March 1981. Of all certificate holders, 2,658 lived overseas, a decrease of 127 compared with the previous year.
A total of 39,590 individuals hold certificates managed by the Hiroshima City government, down 2,601 from a year ago, falling below 40,000. That group of certificate holders’ average age is 84.14 years, an increase of 0.66 years relative to the previous year. The number of certificate holders in Hiroshima Prefecture managed by the prefectural government fell by 1,241 people, to 14,375, with the average age being 86.14 years, an increase of 0.54 years compared with the previous year.
Regarding the number of A-bomb survivors throughout Japan receiving allowances related to the survivor certificates, 97,456 obtain health care allowances of 34,900 yen per month, which are paid when the survivors are stricken with specific diseases or medical conditions, a decline of 9,576 people relative to the previous year. Recipients obtaining special medical subsidies of 141,900 yen per month based on recognition of their suffering from A-bomb-related diseases totaled 6,062, a decrease of 916 individuals.
With respect to recognition of A-bomb survivor status, starting in April this year, the ministry has begun to provide A-bomb Survivor’s Certificates to those who were exposed to the “black rain” that fell after the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, based on new eligibility criteria. The number of those who have become newly eligible for the certificate as a result of the new criteria will be incorporated into the ministry’s data for next year.
(Originally published on July 2, 2022)
