Nihon Hidankyo awarded Nobel Peace Prize: Hidankyo co-chair Terumi Tanaka wants the world to hear A-bomb survivors’ voices
Oct. 17, 2024
First testimony to young people since winning the Nobel Peace Prize
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), a recipient of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize and resident of Niiza in Saitama Prefecture, shared his experience of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki at Saitama Prefectural Urawa High School on October 16. He stressed, “Nuclear weapons must not be used a third time, following Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” and called on the students, saying, “Nuclear weapons are an issue that affects the future of young people. I hope you will strive to ensure they are never used.”
This was Mr. Tanaka’s first testimony since receiving the prize, and he spoke for around an hour to about 350 second-year students, who would be visiting Hiroshima on a school trip next month. At the time of the A-bombing, he was reading a book at home, 3.2 kilometers from the hypocenter. He recalled, “There was a boom, and everything around me turned white.” The blast caused a glass door to fall on him, but it did not break, so he was unharmed. He said, “It was miracle. That’s why I’m alive and able to speak to you all.”
He also spoke about what he saw three days after the A-bombing. Bodies were scattered along the road to his aunt’s house near the hypocenter. After he cremated his deceased aunt, he burst out crying when he saw the remains, unable to hold back his emotions. Straining his voice, he said, “My human heart was revived. Even now, I shed tears when I recall that time.”
Regarding the awarding of this prize, he expressed his view, saying, “That’s because people all over the world must hear the testimonies of A-bomb survivors” amid the growing threat of nuclear weapons use. He expressed his view that the international situation regarding nuclear weapons is critical and stressed, “Norms are about to collapse. Nuclear weapons must never be used a third time.” The students were listening to him with serious expressions on their faces. Daiki Shimamura, 16, said, “I believe the Nobel Peace Prize is not the goal but the beginning of efforts to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. It’s our generation’s responsibility to give it meaning.”
(Originally published on October 17, 2024)
