Survivors of Hiroshima atomic bombing account for 60% of A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate holders as of end of March 2022: Survey by city government
Jul. 28, 2023
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
Of A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate holders living in Japan and abroad, 60% are survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and 40% of Nagasaki, a survey conducted by the City of Hiroshima has found. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announces the number of A-bomb certificate holders each fiscal year, but it does not survey whether they were exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. This survey by the city government first made such information available.
The certificates are issued by the municipal and prefectural governments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The City of Hiroshima requested municipalities across the country to find the number of A-bomb certificate holders by the end of March 2022 as per the place they were exposed to the bombing. By adding up the numbers reported, it was revealed that 71,578, or 60% of the total, were exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, while 46,794, or 40%, were exposed in Nagasaki.
With the bombing location of 356 survivors not available, the total number of A-bomb certificate holders was 118,728. One prefecture did not respond, and the number was 207 fewer than the total number announced by the health ministry for the same period.
By prefecture, 80% of those exposed to the Hiroshima bombing were in the Chugoku region, which contains Hiroshima and four other surrounding prefectures. The numbers of survivors of the Hiroshima bombing were larger than those of Nagasaki in the other 25 prefectures. Of the 53,965 certificate holders living in Hiroshima Prefecture, including the city of Hiroshima, 478, or 0.9%, were survivors of the Nagasaki bombing. On the other hand, nearly 80% of Nagasaki A-bomb survivors were in the Kyushu region. In Nagasaki Prefecture, including Nagasaki City, 30,942 people held the certificate, of which 515, or 1.7%, were survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
The city government began this survey two years ago at the request of citizens. According to the city government’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department, it was decided that such information would be useful in providing support to survivors. The city is now conducting a similar survey of A-bomb certificate holders as of the end of March of this year. They will compile new data this fall.
(Originally published on July 28, 2023)
Of A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate holders living in Japan and abroad, 60% are survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and 40% of Nagasaki, a survey conducted by the City of Hiroshima has found. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announces the number of A-bomb certificate holders each fiscal year, but it does not survey whether they were exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. This survey by the city government first made such information available.
The certificates are issued by the municipal and prefectural governments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The City of Hiroshima requested municipalities across the country to find the number of A-bomb certificate holders by the end of March 2022 as per the place they were exposed to the bombing. By adding up the numbers reported, it was revealed that 71,578, or 60% of the total, were exposed to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, while 46,794, or 40%, were exposed in Nagasaki.
With the bombing location of 356 survivors not available, the total number of A-bomb certificate holders was 118,728. One prefecture did not respond, and the number was 207 fewer than the total number announced by the health ministry for the same period.
By prefecture, 80% of those exposed to the Hiroshima bombing were in the Chugoku region, which contains Hiroshima and four other surrounding prefectures. The numbers of survivors of the Hiroshima bombing were larger than those of Nagasaki in the other 25 prefectures. Of the 53,965 certificate holders living in Hiroshima Prefecture, including the city of Hiroshima, 478, or 0.9%, were survivors of the Nagasaki bombing. On the other hand, nearly 80% of Nagasaki A-bomb survivors were in the Kyushu region. In Nagasaki Prefecture, including Nagasaki City, 30,942 people held the certificate, of which 515, or 1.7%, were survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
The city government began this survey two years ago at the request of citizens. According to the city government’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department, it was decided that such information would be useful in providing support to survivors. The city is now conducting a similar survey of A-bomb certificate holders as of the end of March of this year. They will compile new data this fall.
(Originally published on July 28, 2023)
