Examination of more than 40 in-utero A-bomb survivors’ certificates delayed as death of their mothers not considered
Aug. 1, 2022
by Taiki Yomura and Teru Matsumoto, Staff Writers
Regarding relief measures for A-bomb survivors who were exposed to radioactive black rain that fell in the aftermath of the dropping of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, it was learned on July 31 that the examination for issuance of the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate to those who were exposed to the atomic bomb while in their mother’s womb has been suspended. The government’s new guidelines for recognition as an A-bomb survivor, which took effect in April of this year, does not take into consideration an examination method for cases where the mother has died, resulting in examinations of at least 40 in-utero A-bomb survivors having been delayed.
Under the new guidelines, a certificate will be issued if the possibility of exposure to black rain cannot be denied from the testimony of a black rain victim or their residence at the time of the atomic bombing and if they have suffered from any of 11 diseases, such as cancer and cirrhosis. However, the guidelines do not take into consideration the examination method for cases of in-utero A-bomb survivors who were exposed to the atomic bomb while in their mother’s womb, and the Hiroshima prefectural government and Hiroshima city government have requested a response from the national government about how to deal with such cases.
Daiken Shiroyama, 76, a resident of the town of Akiota-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture who claims his mother was affected by black rain in the former village of Tsutsuga-mura (now part of Akiota-cho), said he applied to the prefectural government for the issuance of a certificate last November, but that examination has been suspended at the moment. His mother has already died of tongue cancer. Mr. Shiroyama says, “There is no doubt that while I was in my mother’s womb, I was affected by radiation. Even without her testimony, I would like to have myself recognized as an in-utero A-bomb survivor based on testimonies from people who were around me and my mother.”
Masayasu Takemori, a lawyer from an association that supports black rain victims points out, “From the statement of people who were around his family and his mother’s death certificate, it should be possible to confirm the mother was exposed to black rain after the atomic bombing and whether she suffered from any of the 11 diseases. The government should recognize people who were exposed to the atomic bomb in their mother’s womb as an A-bomb survivor.
(Originally published on August 1, 2022)
Regarding relief measures for A-bomb survivors who were exposed to radioactive black rain that fell in the aftermath of the dropping of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, it was learned on July 31 that the examination for issuance of the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate to those who were exposed to the atomic bomb while in their mother’s womb has been suspended. The government’s new guidelines for recognition as an A-bomb survivor, which took effect in April of this year, does not take into consideration an examination method for cases where the mother has died, resulting in examinations of at least 40 in-utero A-bomb survivors having been delayed.
Under the new guidelines, a certificate will be issued if the possibility of exposure to black rain cannot be denied from the testimony of a black rain victim or their residence at the time of the atomic bombing and if they have suffered from any of 11 diseases, such as cancer and cirrhosis. However, the guidelines do not take into consideration the examination method for cases of in-utero A-bomb survivors who were exposed to the atomic bomb while in their mother’s womb, and the Hiroshima prefectural government and Hiroshima city government have requested a response from the national government about how to deal with such cases.
Daiken Shiroyama, 76, a resident of the town of Akiota-cho in Hiroshima Prefecture who claims his mother was affected by black rain in the former village of Tsutsuga-mura (now part of Akiota-cho), said he applied to the prefectural government for the issuance of a certificate last November, but that examination has been suspended at the moment. His mother has already died of tongue cancer. Mr. Shiroyama says, “There is no doubt that while I was in my mother’s womb, I was affected by radiation. Even without her testimony, I would like to have myself recognized as an in-utero A-bomb survivor based on testimonies from people who were around me and my mother.”
Masayasu Takemori, a lawyer from an association that supports black rain victims points out, “From the statement of people who were around his family and his mother’s death certificate, it should be possible to confirm the mother was exposed to black rain after the atomic bombing and whether she suffered from any of the 11 diseases. The government should recognize people who were exposed to the atomic bomb in their mother’s womb as an A-bomb survivor.
(Originally published on August 1, 2022)
