First lawsuit over A-bomb disease certification by A-bomb survivor overseas is filed
Nov. 16, 2010
by Yuichi Yamasaki, Staff Writer
On November 12, Takashi Morita, 86, chairman of the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors and a resident of Sao Paulo, Brazil, filed a lawsuit with the Hiroshima District Court against the Japanese government, seeking to reverse the government’s decision rejecting his application for A-bomb disease certification, among other matters. According to his lawyers, this is the first time that an A-bomb survivor overseas has filed a lawsuit over A-bomb disease certification.
The court claim and other documents state that Mr. Morita experienced the atomic bombing of Hiroshima while on the street, 1.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. He applied to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry for A-bomb disease certification in June 2008, citing a heart attack. However, his application was rejected in May of this year on the grounds that his disease “cannot be certified as having been induced by radiation.”
The Japanese government introduced the new criteria in April 2008, with which it proactively recognizes some ailments, including cancer, heart attack, and leukemia, as A-bomb diseases, provided that applicants were exposed to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima or Nagasaki within 3.5 kilometers of the hypocenters. Mr. Morita argues, “The rejection of my application is a violation of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law.”
On the same day, Mr. Morita, who is visiting Japan, held a news conference in downtown Hiroshima and commented: “I would like to help create a path of hope for A-bomb survivors overseas at the earliest possible date.”
(Originally published on November 13, 2010)
On November 12, Takashi Morita, 86, chairman of the Peace Association of Brazilian A-bomb Survivors and a resident of Sao Paulo, Brazil, filed a lawsuit with the Hiroshima District Court against the Japanese government, seeking to reverse the government’s decision rejecting his application for A-bomb disease certification, among other matters. According to his lawyers, this is the first time that an A-bomb survivor overseas has filed a lawsuit over A-bomb disease certification.
The court claim and other documents state that Mr. Morita experienced the atomic bombing of Hiroshima while on the street, 1.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. He applied to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry for A-bomb disease certification in June 2008, citing a heart attack. However, his application was rejected in May of this year on the grounds that his disease “cannot be certified as having been induced by radiation.”
The Japanese government introduced the new criteria in April 2008, with which it proactively recognizes some ailments, including cancer, heart attack, and leukemia, as A-bomb diseases, provided that applicants were exposed to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima or Nagasaki within 3.5 kilometers of the hypocenters. Mr. Morita argues, “The rejection of my application is a violation of the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law.”
On the same day, Mr. Morita, who is visiting Japan, held a news conference in downtown Hiroshima and commented: “I would like to help create a path of hope for A-bomb survivors overseas at the earliest possible date.”
(Originally published on November 13, 2010)
