News

by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer

In March 1957, a bill for the Law Concerning Medical Care, etc., for Atomic Bomb Survivors (the Atomic Bomb Medical Relief Law) was passed by both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors in Japan, and enacted into law. That was approximately 11 years and seven months after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki carried out by the U.S. military. It was the first time for the national government to legally recognize the existence of and establish relief measures for people who had experienced the bombings and were still suffering as a result.

Heiichi Fujii, who led the movement seeking aid and support as secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), later recalled, “Our demand to restore Hiroshima as it was had been watered down to an extent, but it did become law,” as he explained in the collection Shiryo Chosa Tsushin (in English, ‘Data and Research News’), published in 1981.

Classification determined on basis of research

Article 1 of the Atomic Bomb Medical Relief Law specifies, “In light of the unique health conditions of the A-bomb survivors, which persist to this day, the national government shall provide medical examinations and treatment to such survivors.” Article 2 of the relief law and other ordinances define “A-bomb survivors” as being those who were within certain designated areas at the time of the atomic bombings; those who entered those areas within two weeks of the bombings; those who were in situations likely to lead to radiation effects on their bodies; and the fetuses of individuals meeting those criteria.

This classification is considered to have been made based on research at the time that took into account conditions involving radiation’s effect on the human body. People meeting the conditions were issued an Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate upon their application. Certificate holders could receive government-funded treatment for diseases and injuries, including those that impaired the body’s ability to heal, recognized by the national government as being related to radiation from the atomic bombings. Free medical examinations were provided twice a year.

The law was enacted on April 1 that year. An article published in the Chugoku Shimbun on April 3 reported on the reactions of local people with the headline, “A decade-long desire.” Michihiko Hachiya, director of Hiroshima Teishin Hospital in Hiroshima City, was quoted in the article as saying, “It’s really good news. We can diagnose and provide treatment in the early stages.” The newspaper also reported that A-bomb survivors undergoing treatment at hospitals in the city had “high expectations.”

Ichiro Moritaki, chair of Nihon Hidankyo, also welcomed the law. “It’s thanks to the support of compassionate people and the national government,” Mr. Moritaki said. However, he added, “Without something similar to a medical treatment allowance, A-bomb survivors will be unable to receive adequate treatment and will be left worrying about their lives. That is my concern.”

Although systems for free treatment and medical examinations were established, there were concerns that some people, especially those with financial difficulties, would avoid taking time off from work to undergo medical examinations or be hospitalized after being diagnosed with a disease. An outline of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law Bill laying out relief measures proposed by Nihon Hidankyo shortly after its founding called on the national government to provide a livelihood allowance as a form of social welfare. Nevertheless, such an allowance was not included in the Atomic Bomb Medical Relief Law.

Rate of those undergoing medical examinations remained low

The Hiroshima City government began accepting applications for Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificates at Hiroshima City Hall and three branch offices starting on June 3. A total of 1,850 people applied on the first day. Meanwhile, as of December that year, the rate of those undergoing medical examinations, which were initiated in August, remained low, at just 18.6 percent.

Moreover, Nihon Hidankyo’s outline for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law Bill designated those who died in the atomic bombings and their bereaved families as being A-bomb victims and sufferers and demanded condolence payments for victims and pensions for bereaved families. However, the Medical Relief Law, whose stated purpose in Article 1 was to maintain and improve the health of A-bomb survivors, did not acknowledge such victims or sufferers. As was the case of evacuated children who had not experienced the atomic bombing but did lose family members, sufferers forced to endure harsh post-war conditions because of a war that had been initiated by the nation itself fell through the cracks in the relief system.

An article appearing in the Chugoku Shimbun after the law was enacted reported on Mr. Fujii’s opinions. “It’s a very good law. But the problems faced by sufferers won’t be resolved until all relevant laws are fully established and implemented,” he said. Despite the fact that Mr. Fujii had lost his father and younger sister in the atomic bombing, he himself was not defined as being an “A-bomb sufferer.” The movement seeking national compensation thus continues.

(Originally published on March 23, 2025)