In remarks at Hidankyo Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, Terumi Tanaka calls on people throughout word to serve as stakeholders in nuclear era
Dec. 11, 2024
OSLO — by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
“Let not humanity destroy itself with nuclear weapons…” On December 10, Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), spoke those words at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony held in Oslo City Hall in Norway. His earnest appeal recalled the tragedy of the atomic bombing, which he experienced in Nagasaki 79 years ago. Looking ahead to a future without A-bomb survivors, who have continued to testify about their experiences in the bombings, he implored all the world’s people to act as stakeholders in this nuclear age.
At 1 p.m. local time, amid much fanfare at City Hall, Mr. Tanaka approached the stage in his wheelchair. He was attired in a black suit with a badge of a crane, Hidankyo’s symbol, attached to his lapel, as is his custom. He maintained a stern expression, but smiled when Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, and Shigemitsu Tanaka, 84, who serve as co-chairs of the organization, accepted the award certificate and medal.
It was a historic acceptance speech. Mr. Tanaka proceeded to the podium at center stage and commenced to speak in Japanese of his own experiences in the atomic bombing. At the age of 13, when he was at his home 3.2 kilometers from the hypocenter, “I was engulfed in a bright, white light,” he explained. He followed that by describing the desperate conditions he witnessed three days after the bombing near the hypocenter, where corpses lay scattered about and many badly wounded people were left unattended. Listening to his remarks, the audience was brought to tears. “I strongly felt that even in war, such killing and maiming must never be allowed to happen,” he said.
Mr. Tanaka strayed from his prepared script by twice repeating how the government had not adequately compensated people who died in the atomic bombing. He explicitly rejected the nuclear deterrence theory, which is predicated on the possession of nuclear weapons. “It is the heartfelt desire of A-bomb survivors that no one should possess even a single nuclear weapon.” He then called on people to act for the elimination of nuclear weapons, saying, “Any one of you could become either a victim or a perpetrator, at any time.”
Following the announcement of the award, Mr. Tanaka worked on writing the speech for more than a month. He pondered the speech until late at night day after day, becoming sick at one point. The speech also appeared in his dreams at night. At a press conference on December 9, he revealed a lack of confidence. “I’m so worried, I can’t help myself,” he said. But Mr. Tanaka flipped the script overnight and, on the morning of December 10, he ate breakfast with a smile and joked, “My nervousness is not insignificant.” And without hesitation, he successfully carried out his historic role.
(Originally published on December 11, 2024)
“Let not humanity destroy itself with nuclear weapons…” On December 10, Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), spoke those words at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony held in Oslo City Hall in Norway. His earnest appeal recalled the tragedy of the atomic bombing, which he experienced in Nagasaki 79 years ago. Looking ahead to a future without A-bomb survivors, who have continued to testify about their experiences in the bombings, he implored all the world’s people to act as stakeholders in this nuclear age.
At 1 p.m. local time, amid much fanfare at City Hall, Mr. Tanaka approached the stage in his wheelchair. He was attired in a black suit with a badge of a crane, Hidankyo’s symbol, attached to his lapel, as is his custom. He maintained a stern expression, but smiled when Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, and Shigemitsu Tanaka, 84, who serve as co-chairs of the organization, accepted the award certificate and medal.
It was a historic acceptance speech. Mr. Tanaka proceeded to the podium at center stage and commenced to speak in Japanese of his own experiences in the atomic bombing. At the age of 13, when he was at his home 3.2 kilometers from the hypocenter, “I was engulfed in a bright, white light,” he explained. He followed that by describing the desperate conditions he witnessed three days after the bombing near the hypocenter, where corpses lay scattered about and many badly wounded people were left unattended. Listening to his remarks, the audience was brought to tears. “I strongly felt that even in war, such killing and maiming must never be allowed to happen,” he said.
Mr. Tanaka strayed from his prepared script by twice repeating how the government had not adequately compensated people who died in the atomic bombing. He explicitly rejected the nuclear deterrence theory, which is predicated on the possession of nuclear weapons. “It is the heartfelt desire of A-bomb survivors that no one should possess even a single nuclear weapon.” He then called on people to act for the elimination of nuclear weapons, saying, “Any one of you could become either a victim or a perpetrator, at any time.”
Following the announcement of the award, Mr. Tanaka worked on writing the speech for more than a month. He pondered the speech until late at night day after day, becoming sick at one point. The speech also appeared in his dreams at night. At a press conference on December 9, he revealed a lack of confidence. “I’m so worried, I can’t help myself,” he said. But Mr. Tanaka flipped the script overnight and, on the morning of December 10, he ate breakfast with a smile and joked, “My nervousness is not insignificant.” And without hesitation, he successfully carried out his historic role.
(Originally published on December 11, 2024)
