Vows to work toward nuclear abolition at Bikini Day rallies in Yaizu and Shizuoka
Mar. 3, 2010
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held consecutive rallies in Shizuoka Prefecture on March 1, the 56th anniversary of "Bikini Day." This observance is linked to the day the Japanese tuna fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), based in the city of Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, was exposed to radioactive fallout produced by a U.S. hydrogen bomb test at the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The participants in the rallies have confirmed the intention of turning the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May into an opportunity to step up their campaigns for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Two executive committees that are comprised of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and others organized a rally in the city of Yaizu and about 1,500 people attended. Shiro Kawamoto, chair of an association in Shizuoka Prefecture which supports sufferers of nuclear testing, looked back on the history in which the incident swayed public opinion in pursuit of a ban on atomic and hydrogen bombs. "Let us continue the grassroots movement in pursuit of a total ban on nuclear weapons as well as negotiations for a treaty for their elimination," he said.
Yoshio Misaki, 85, and Matashichi Oishi, 76, former crew members of the fishing boat, also made an appeal for nuclear abolition. Before the gathering, a memorial service was held at Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu for the late Aikichi Kuboyama, chief radio operator of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, who was exposed to radioactive fallout and died.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held a rally with roughly 300 people in the city of Shizuoka. Koichi Kawano, chair of the organization, told the crowd, "We hope for fruitful results at the NPT Review Conference. We propose that the Japanese government assume leadership as the only nation to have suffered from nuclear attack." The meeting has adopted an appeal stating that "We oppose all nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, and call for a halt to all nuclear development."
Motofumi Asai, president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute at Hiroshima City University, delivered a talk and pointed out the challenges facing the NPT and the problems of the nuclear strategies pursued by Japan and the United States. He commented, "An effort for nuclear abolition with a deadline is vital."
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
On Bikini Day, the Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held a rally "Toward a world without nuclear weapons" at the Hiroshima Rodo Building in Higashi Ward, Hiroshima. Members of a delegation set to visit the United States in time for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May also took part in the gathering and expressed their enthusiasm for making an appeal from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima to the world for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Roughly 110 people attended the gathering. Motoshige Nakao, executive director of the Japan Peace Committee, spoke on the theme of "50 years of the Japan-U.S. security framework and issues concerning the secret nuclear pact," and stressed, "The whole story of the secret nuclear pact should be revealed to the public."
Among the 46 members of the delegation that will travel to the United States, about 20 mounted the platform and expressed their determination, saying, "It is the mission of adults to provide the next generation with a world without nuclear weapons" and "I want to act, keeping in mind the fact that citizens are not powerless."
(Originally published on March 2, 2010)
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held consecutive rallies in Shizuoka Prefecture on March 1, the 56th anniversary of "Bikini Day." This observance is linked to the day the Japanese tuna fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), based in the city of Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, was exposed to radioactive fallout produced by a U.S. hydrogen bomb test at the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The participants in the rallies have confirmed the intention of turning the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May into an opportunity to step up their campaigns for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Two executive committees that are comprised of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and others organized a rally in the city of Yaizu and about 1,500 people attended. Shiro Kawamoto, chair of an association in Shizuoka Prefecture which supports sufferers of nuclear testing, looked back on the history in which the incident swayed public opinion in pursuit of a ban on atomic and hydrogen bombs. "Let us continue the grassroots movement in pursuit of a total ban on nuclear weapons as well as negotiations for a treaty for their elimination," he said.
Yoshio Misaki, 85, and Matashichi Oishi, 76, former crew members of the fishing boat, also made an appeal for nuclear abolition. Before the gathering, a memorial service was held at Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu for the late Aikichi Kuboyama, chief radio operator of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, who was exposed to radioactive fallout and died.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held a rally with roughly 300 people in the city of Shizuoka. Koichi Kawano, chair of the organization, told the crowd, "We hope for fruitful results at the NPT Review Conference. We propose that the Japanese government assume leadership as the only nation to have suffered from nuclear attack." The meeting has adopted an appeal stating that "We oppose all nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, and call for a halt to all nuclear development."
Motofumi Asai, president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute at Hiroshima City University, delivered a talk and pointed out the challenges facing the NPT and the problems of the nuclear strategies pursued by Japan and the United States. He commented, "An effort for nuclear abolition with a deadline is vital."
Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs holds meeting in Hiroshima in pursuit of world without nuclear weapons
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
On Bikini Day, the Hiroshima Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held a rally "Toward a world without nuclear weapons" at the Hiroshima Rodo Building in Higashi Ward, Hiroshima. Members of a delegation set to visit the United States in time for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May also took part in the gathering and expressed their enthusiasm for making an appeal from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima to the world for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Roughly 110 people attended the gathering. Motoshige Nakao, executive director of the Japan Peace Committee, spoke on the theme of "50 years of the Japan-U.S. security framework and issues concerning the secret nuclear pact," and stressed, "The whole story of the secret nuclear pact should be revealed to the public."
Among the 46 members of the delegation that will travel to the United States, about 20 mounted the platform and expressed their determination, saying, "It is the mission of adults to provide the next generation with a world without nuclear weapons" and "I want to act, keeping in mind the fact that citizens are not powerless."
(Originally published on March 2, 2010)
