First South Korean, black-rain victim granted recognition as A-bomb survivor under new criteria
May 15, 2023
by Kana Kobayashi, Staff Writer
On April 11, it was found that earlier in March this year the Hiroshima City government made the determination to grant an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to a resident of South Korea under the new criteria for A-bomb survivor recognition related to exposure to the “black rain” that fell after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It was the first case of a resident of South Korea being recognized as an A-bomb survivor under the new recognition standards introduced by Japan’s national government in April of last year.
Last October, the city certified a victim of black rain living in the United States as being an A-bomb survivor, in the first overseas case based on the new criteria. In January this year, the city decided to issue a certificate to another victim living in the United States, and then in March to two more overseas residents—one in the United States and the one in question in South Korea.
A total of 4,696 persons have applied to the Hiroshima Prefectural and Hiroshima City governments for a certificate starting in July 2021, the month when finalization of the Hiroshima High Court’s ruling drove introduction of the new criteria, through the end of March 2023. Of those applicants, 3,763 were certified by the end of March this year, but 184 applications had been rejected on the grounds that verification regarding whether the applicants had been exposed to the black rain was not possible. A majority of the 749 remaining cases are currently under review by the prefecture and the city. Some of the applicants have withdrawn their applications.
Based on the new criteria, an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate will be issued if the possibility of the applicant having been exposed to the black rain cannot be denied based on the applicant’s testimony about the bombing or the location of their residence at the time, and if the applicant suffers from one or more of 11 diseases, such as cancer, required for certification. A history of cataract surgery will also qualify an applicant for relief. Victims living overseas can submit an application for a certificate to either Hiroshima City or Hiroshima Prefecture, depending on the location at which they experienced the black rain exposure, through the diplomatic missions in their countries of residence. Those returning to Japan on a temporary basis can also submit an application to other prefectural governments.
(Originally published on April 12, 2023)
On April 11, it was found that earlier in March this year the Hiroshima City government made the determination to grant an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate to a resident of South Korea under the new criteria for A-bomb survivor recognition related to exposure to the “black rain” that fell after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It was the first case of a resident of South Korea being recognized as an A-bomb survivor under the new recognition standards introduced by Japan’s national government in April of last year.
Last October, the city certified a victim of black rain living in the United States as being an A-bomb survivor, in the first overseas case based on the new criteria. In January this year, the city decided to issue a certificate to another victim living in the United States, and then in March to two more overseas residents—one in the United States and the one in question in South Korea.
A total of 4,696 persons have applied to the Hiroshima Prefectural and Hiroshima City governments for a certificate starting in July 2021, the month when finalization of the Hiroshima High Court’s ruling drove introduction of the new criteria, through the end of March 2023. Of those applicants, 3,763 were certified by the end of March this year, but 184 applications had been rejected on the grounds that verification regarding whether the applicants had been exposed to the black rain was not possible. A majority of the 749 remaining cases are currently under review by the prefecture and the city. Some of the applicants have withdrawn their applications.
Based on the new criteria, an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate will be issued if the possibility of the applicant having been exposed to the black rain cannot be denied based on the applicant’s testimony about the bombing or the location of their residence at the time, and if the applicant suffers from one or more of 11 diseases, such as cancer, required for certification. A history of cataract surgery will also qualify an applicant for relief. Victims living overseas can submit an application for a certificate to either Hiroshima City or Hiroshima Prefecture, depending on the location at which they experienced the black rain exposure, through the diplomatic missions in their countries of residence. Those returning to Japan on a temporary basis can also submit an application to other prefectural governments.
(Originally published on April 12, 2023)
