Hibakushas share A-bomb testimonies at church in NY, calling for action toward abolition of nuclear weapons
Aug. 6, 2022
by Kana Kobayashi and Koji Higuchi, Staff Writers (reporting from New York City)
On August 7, a delegation from the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which has been visiting New York in conjunction with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference, shared their experiences of the atomic bombing at a church in the city. As Russia, which invaded Ukraine, continues in its threats to use nuclear weapons, the delegation considered action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons with about 20 people who gathered at the church.
Sueichi Kido, 82, Hidankyo’s Secretary General and a resident of Gifu City who experienced the atomic bomb in Nagasaki when he was around 5 years old, stressed, “I would like to consider what we can do together to eliminate all nuclear weapons, while keeping Russia’s behavior in mind. He called nuclear weapons an “absolute evil” which would result in many tragic deaths if they are used, and appealed for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Two Assistant Secretary Generals of the Hidankyo attended the gathering. Masako Wada, 78, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and resident of Yokohama City, urged the attendants to take action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, not just pray for that goal. Jiro Hamazumi, 76, an in-utero A-bomb survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and resident of Tokyo, said, “There are about 13,000 nuclear warheads all over the world now. We, A-bomb survivors, cannot die before all nuclear weapons are completely eliminated.”
Angelica Ruggiero, 35, a teacher travelling from Italy, said with tears that she was moved by the words of A-bomb survivors who have lived a life for themselves as well as for their family members who lost their lives in the atomic bombing and have continued to talk about their A-bomb experiences. She added she would like to share their testimonies with her students.
The delegation will end its visit on August 7 and head back to Japan on August 8. Mr. Kido expressed his hope the Review Conference will somehow reach an agreement that will lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on August 6, 2022)
On August 7, a delegation from the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which has been visiting New York in conjunction with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference, shared their experiences of the atomic bombing at a church in the city. As Russia, which invaded Ukraine, continues in its threats to use nuclear weapons, the delegation considered action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons with about 20 people who gathered at the church.
Sueichi Kido, 82, Hidankyo’s Secretary General and a resident of Gifu City who experienced the atomic bomb in Nagasaki when he was around 5 years old, stressed, “I would like to consider what we can do together to eliminate all nuclear weapons, while keeping Russia’s behavior in mind. He called nuclear weapons an “absolute evil” which would result in many tragic deaths if they are used, and appealed for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Two Assistant Secretary Generals of the Hidankyo attended the gathering. Masako Wada, 78, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and resident of Yokohama City, urged the attendants to take action toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, not just pray for that goal. Jiro Hamazumi, 76, an in-utero A-bomb survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and resident of Tokyo, said, “There are about 13,000 nuclear warheads all over the world now. We, A-bomb survivors, cannot die before all nuclear weapons are completely eliminated.”
Angelica Ruggiero, 35, a teacher travelling from Italy, said with tears that she was moved by the words of A-bomb survivors who have lived a life for themselves as well as for their family members who lost their lives in the atomic bombing and have continued to talk about their A-bomb experiences. She added she would like to share their testimonies with her students.
The delegation will end its visit on August 7 and head back to Japan on August 8. Mr. Kido expressed his hope the Review Conference will somehow reach an agreement that will lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on August 6, 2022)
