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Hiroshima Summit, May 19-21: A-bomb survivors, young people agree to make request for discussion on nuclear abolition

by Yu Kawakami, Staff Writer

Nine organizations held a gathering of A-bomb survivors and young people on March 19, two months before the summit of The Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to be held in Hiroshima in May. The organizations included the two Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), and Kakuwaka Hiroshima, a group mainly composed of young people in Hiroshima who are actively learning about nuclear policies as voters. About 100 people listened to the exchange of views across generations at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Participants agreed they would request Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discuss the abolition of nuclear weapons at the summit.

Ten people took the stage, including Toshiyuki Mimaki, 81, chair of Hiroshima Hidankyo, Kunihiko Sakuma, 78, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, and Miho Tanaka, co-chair of Kakuwaka Hiroshima. Mr. Mimaki said, “At the summit hosted by Hiroshima, they should discuss how to create a world without nuclear weapons,” and proposed a dialogue be held between A-bomb survivors and the leaders of those countries.

Ms. Tanaka pointed out discussions need to be held from diverse perspectives, including gender. She stressed the leaders “should feel uncomfortable with the fact that the nuclear deterrence system can only be established at the sacrifice of some people (such as women).”

The opinions expressed at the gathering will be compiled into a written request and will soon be delivered to Prime Minister Kishida, who will chair the summit.

(Originally published of March 20, 2023)

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