Sense of crisis over handing down A-bomb experience as another survivors’ group decides to disband
Mar. 2, 2015
by Aya Kano and Kana Kobayashi, Staff Writers
In this 70th milestone year since the atomic bombings, the Fukuyama City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers has decided that its group will disband at the end of March. With the A-bomb survivors who call for nuclear abolition now growing older, survivors’ groups in many locations are now faced with the challenge of sustaining their activities. This sense of crisis has grown even within the Hiroshima area. Survivors’ groups are struggling for ways to stay active, including efforts to pass their torch to second-generation survivors.
On the afternoon of February 22, a closed-door meeting of about three hours was held at a community center in the city of Fukuyama. The board members left the room with such comments as “Our group will finally close” and “It’s so shocking.” Toshihiko Sato, 73, the secretary general of the association, hung his head and said, “I’m very sorry for all the members of the group.”
According to the participants, 24 board members took part in the meeting and discussed whether or not the association should be dissolved by the end of this fiscal year. A vote was then taken of the participants, with the chairman abstaining. Twelve people voted in favor of dissolving the group while 11 were opposed. Because the vote was so close, “It was a very tough decision for the association to make,” Mr. Sato said.
The association has about 500 members in total, including second-generation survivors. Last year, a key board member resigned due to health concerns. With the other board members facing difficulties in maintaining the group, they considered handing over responsibility to the second-generation survivors, but this idea did not materialize. The association will now consult with city officials about how to handle their memorial ceremony for the A-bomb victims, which they have held annually in Fukuyama on August 6.
In terms of prefectural organizations under the umbrella of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), the advancing age of members has already led to organizations in Nara dissolving in 2006 and in Shiga in 2008. On a municipal or regional level, survivors’ groups have brought their activities to an end, one after another. Within Hiroshima Prefecture, Kouchi Town (Higashihiroshima City) Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers was disbanded in 2013. In Akitakata City, Mukaihara Town’s Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers has also ended its activities.
Meanwhile, some groups are seeking to give their best effort to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings. In the case of the Mihara City Association of A-bomb Sufferers, comprised of about 450 survivors and chaired by Masao Houyama, the group hopes to compile a 70-year history of their members’ experiences of the atomic bombing by this summer. Tokuo Otomaru, 73, the secretary general, said “I believe the 70th anniversary is the last opportunity for A-bomb survivors to take the initiative and act on their own. In the future, I hope the second-generation survivors will lead the association.”
About six years ago, two key posts in the Miyoshi City Confederation of Atomic Bomb Sufferers, chaired by Takuji Tokimaru, were newly assumed by second-generation A-bomb survivors: the secretary general and the treasurer. These second-generation survivors provide support for tasks that the A-bomb survivors are not able to execute on their own, such as publishing the group’s newsletter. Masayuki Taguchi, 57, the secretary general, said, “I have seen my parents suffering from diseases caused by the atomic bomb. I want to consider the future of this group from the point of view of the second-generation survivors.”
Keywords
Fukuyama City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers
Founded in 1956, the group has enabled A-bomb survivors to form ties of friendship and share their A-bomb experiences with the public. Because the advancing age of its board members has made operating the group difficult, the decision to dissolve the association at the end of March was made at a special board meeting on February 22, 2015. Currently, there are 512 members in total, with 368 A-bomb survivors, 130 second-generation survivors, and 14 family members of A-bomb victims.
(Originally published on February 24, 2015）
In this 70th milestone year since the atomic bombings, the Fukuyama City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers has decided that its group will disband at the end of March. With the A-bomb survivors who call for nuclear abolition now growing older, survivors’ groups in many locations are now faced with the challenge of sustaining their activities. This sense of crisis has grown even within the Hiroshima area. Survivors’ groups are struggling for ways to stay active, including efforts to pass their torch to second-generation survivors.
On the afternoon of February 22, a closed-door meeting of about three hours was held at a community center in the city of Fukuyama. The board members left the room with such comments as “Our group will finally close” and “It’s so shocking.” Toshihiko Sato, 73, the secretary general of the association, hung his head and said, “I’m very sorry for all the members of the group.”
According to the participants, 24 board members took part in the meeting and discussed whether or not the association should be dissolved by the end of this fiscal year. A vote was then taken of the participants, with the chairman abstaining. Twelve people voted in favor of dissolving the group while 11 were opposed. Because the vote was so close, “It was a very tough decision for the association to make,” Mr. Sato said.
The association has about 500 members in total, including second-generation survivors. Last year, a key board member resigned due to health concerns. With the other board members facing difficulties in maintaining the group, they considered handing over responsibility to the second-generation survivors, but this idea did not materialize. The association will now consult with city officials about how to handle their memorial ceremony for the A-bomb victims, which they have held annually in Fukuyama on August 6.
In terms of prefectural organizations under the umbrella of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), the advancing age of members has already led to organizations in Nara dissolving in 2006 and in Shiga in 2008. On a municipal or regional level, survivors’ groups have brought their activities to an end, one after another. Within Hiroshima Prefecture, Kouchi Town (Higashihiroshima City) Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers was disbanded in 2013. In Akitakata City, Mukaihara Town’s Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers has also ended its activities.
Meanwhile, some groups are seeking to give their best effort to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings. In the case of the Mihara City Association of A-bomb Sufferers, comprised of about 450 survivors and chaired by Masao Houyama, the group hopes to compile a 70-year history of their members’ experiences of the atomic bombing by this summer. Tokuo Otomaru, 73, the secretary general, said “I believe the 70th anniversary is the last opportunity for A-bomb survivors to take the initiative and act on their own. In the future, I hope the second-generation survivors will lead the association.”
About six years ago, two key posts in the Miyoshi City Confederation of Atomic Bomb Sufferers, chaired by Takuji Tokimaru, were newly assumed by second-generation A-bomb survivors: the secretary general and the treasurer. These second-generation survivors provide support for tasks that the A-bomb survivors are not able to execute on their own, such as publishing the group’s newsletter. Masayuki Taguchi, 57, the secretary general, said, “I have seen my parents suffering from diseases caused by the atomic bomb. I want to consider the future of this group from the point of view of the second-generation survivors.”
Keywords
Fukuyama City Association of Atomic Bomb Sufferers
Founded in 1956, the group has enabled A-bomb survivors to form ties of friendship and share their A-bomb experiences with the public. Because the advancing age of its board members has made operating the group difficult, the decision to dissolve the association at the end of March was made at a special board meeting on February 22, 2015. Currently, there are 512 members in total, with 368 A-bomb survivors, 130 second-generation survivors, and 14 family members of A-bomb victims.
(Originally published on February 24, 2015）
