Hidankyo awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Dec. 12, 2024
On December 11, the morning after the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony for the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), joy spread among atomic bomb survivors’ associations and citizens’ groups in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures that they had indeed received the prize. Some reaffirmed their commitment to passing on their memories of the atomic bombing, while others had high expectations for action by the Japanese government and the international community to realize a world free of nuclear weapons. Representatives of Korean survivors’ organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture expressed their mixed feelings.
Atomic bomb survivors’ associations: “The nuclear situation in the world may change.” “We will pass the baton of peace to the next generation.”
Masao Hoyama, 95, chair of the atomic bomb survivors’ association in Mihara City, watched the award ceremony on television at home. “The award is a great encouragement to us. We have to work harder than ever,” he spoke firmly, anticipating that “the number of people who seriously think about the horror of nuclear weapons should increase on a global scale. The nuclear situation in the world may change.”
Miyoko Hayashi, 84, chair of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, spoke to her deceased friends. “You can rest easy. We have come as far as this.” She hopes the award will help “world leaders understand the absolute evil of nuclear weapons that destroy humanity.”
Seiji Iwamoto, 81, chair of the atomic bomb survivors’ association of Akiota town, Hiroshima Prefecture, thought of the efforts by his predecessors and demanded: “It is the Japanese government’s turn to act. It should show the attitude toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, such as joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”
Some brace their nerves. Hiroshi Harada, 85, former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the vice-chair of the Hiroshima City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers, feels “the award is more like a heavy burden placed on our shoulders than a joy.” He said: “Whether administrations and citizens are acting as one to eliminate nuclear weapons, and how we can make use of the award on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing are being questioned.”
Second-generation atomic bomb survivors renewed their resolve to pass on their activity. Masayuki Taguchi, 67, chair of the council of atomic bomb sufferers in Miyoshi City, straightened up and said: “How to tell the next generation in a way that touches their hearts is a big challenge.” Mitsue Furuta, 77, assistant secretary general of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo; chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma), who also serves as an A-bomb Legacy Successor, vowed, saying: “There is a sense of crisis that nuclear weapons are becoming less ‘taboo.’ I will ensure that the baton of peace is passed on to young people.”
Korean survivors: “It may become a step toward a non-discriminatory society.” “Please face history.”
Kwon Joon-oh, 75, chair of the Committee Seeking Measures for the Korean A-bomb Victims, appreciated that Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of the Nihon Hidankyo, mentioned South Korean survivors in his speech at the ceremony. He hoped that “the world would take a step toward a non-discriminatory society by knowing the people who tasted the double bitterness as atomic bomb survivors and also as Koreans living in Japan.”
Kim Jin Ho, 78, chair of the Council of atomic-bombed Koreans in Hiroshima, was disappointed North Korean survivors, who have been left out of relief measures because Japan has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, were not mentioned in the speech. He emphasized: “Why were Korean atomic bomb victims born? It is important to face history.”
Citizens’ groups and tourists: “All victims must be relieved.” “felt hope for the future.”
Tomoko Watanabe, 71, executive director of the non-profit organization ANT-Hiroshima (Hiroshima’s Naka Ward), referred to the speech by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Committee, in which the increased risk of nuclear weapons use was pointed out. “It made me think about whether Hiroshima and Nagasaki are sharing and responding to their thoughts,” Ms. Watanabe reflected.
Miho Tanaka, 30, co-chair of Kakuwaka Hiroshima, a group of young voters in Hiroshima interested in knowing about nuclear policies, said what struck her most was Mr. Tanaka’s speech, in which he repeated twice that no state compensation had been provided to those who died in the bombing. “In addition to those who died in the bombing, there must be other victims in Japan and abroad who have not received aid and are not known,” she said, renewing her stance to call for relief measures to save all ‘hibakusha’ (atomic bomb survivors).
Mari Watanabe, 53, a caregiver from Naka Ward, visited the museum for the first time in the dozen years or so after watching the broadcast of the award ceremony. She said: “When I saw high school students participating in the ceremony, I felt hope for the future.”
Erivan Kazaz, 22, a company employee from Israel who visited Peace Memorial Park for the first time, said the awarding of the prize to the atomic bomb survivors was very significant and that she hoped that people would live in peace and tranquility without being threatened by nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on December 12, 2024)
Atomic bomb survivors’ associations: “The nuclear situation in the world may change.” “We will pass the baton of peace to the next generation.”
Masao Hoyama, 95, chair of the atomic bomb survivors’ association in Mihara City, watched the award ceremony on television at home. “The award is a great encouragement to us. We have to work harder than ever,” he spoke firmly, anticipating that “the number of people who seriously think about the horror of nuclear weapons should increase on a global scale. The nuclear situation in the world may change.”
Miyoko Hayashi, 84, chair of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, spoke to her deceased friends. “You can rest easy. We have come as far as this.” She hopes the award will help “world leaders understand the absolute evil of nuclear weapons that destroy humanity.”
Seiji Iwamoto, 81, chair of the atomic bomb survivors’ association of Akiota town, Hiroshima Prefecture, thought of the efforts by his predecessors and demanded: “It is the Japanese government’s turn to act. It should show the attitude toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, such as joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”
Some brace their nerves. Hiroshi Harada, 85, former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the vice-chair of the Hiroshima City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers, feels “the award is more like a heavy burden placed on our shoulders than a joy.” He said: “Whether administrations and citizens are acting as one to eliminate nuclear weapons, and how we can make use of the award on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing are being questioned.”
Second-generation atomic bomb survivors renewed their resolve to pass on their activity. Masayuki Taguchi, 67, chair of the council of atomic bomb sufferers in Miyoshi City, straightened up and said: “How to tell the next generation in a way that touches their hearts is a big challenge.” Mitsue Furuta, 77, assistant secretary general of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo; chaired by Kunihiko Sakuma), who also serves as an A-bomb Legacy Successor, vowed, saying: “There is a sense of crisis that nuclear weapons are becoming less ‘taboo.’ I will ensure that the baton of peace is passed on to young people.”
Korean survivors: “It may become a step toward a non-discriminatory society.” “Please face history.”
Kwon Joon-oh, 75, chair of the Committee Seeking Measures for the Korean A-bomb Victims, appreciated that Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of the Nihon Hidankyo, mentioned South Korean survivors in his speech at the ceremony. He hoped that “the world would take a step toward a non-discriminatory society by knowing the people who tasted the double bitterness as atomic bomb survivors and also as Koreans living in Japan.”
Kim Jin Ho, 78, chair of the Council of atomic-bombed Koreans in Hiroshima, was disappointed North Korean survivors, who have been left out of relief measures because Japan has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, were not mentioned in the speech. He emphasized: “Why were Korean atomic bomb victims born? It is important to face history.”
Citizens’ groups and tourists: “All victims must be relieved.” “felt hope for the future.”
Tomoko Watanabe, 71, executive director of the non-profit organization ANT-Hiroshima (Hiroshima’s Naka Ward), referred to the speech by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Committee, in which the increased risk of nuclear weapons use was pointed out. “It made me think about whether Hiroshima and Nagasaki are sharing and responding to their thoughts,” Ms. Watanabe reflected.
Miho Tanaka, 30, co-chair of Kakuwaka Hiroshima, a group of young voters in Hiroshima interested in knowing about nuclear policies, said what struck her most was Mr. Tanaka’s speech, in which he repeated twice that no state compensation had been provided to those who died in the bombing. “In addition to those who died in the bombing, there must be other victims in Japan and abroad who have not received aid and are not known,” she said, renewing her stance to call for relief measures to save all ‘hibakusha’ (atomic bomb survivors).
Mari Watanabe, 53, a caregiver from Naka Ward, visited the museum for the first time in the dozen years or so after watching the broadcast of the award ceremony. She said: “When I saw high school students participating in the ceremony, I felt hope for the future.”
Erivan Kazaz, 22, a company employee from Israel who visited Peace Memorial Park for the first time, said the awarding of the prize to the atomic bomb survivors was very significant and that she hoped that people would live in peace and tranquility without being threatened by nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on December 12, 2024)
