36 “black rain” sufferers apply for Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate in Hiroshima City
Apr. 2, 2015
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
On March 23, 36 people from the city of Hiroshima applied for the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate at City Hall. They claim that their health was damaged because they were exposed to the radioactive “black rain” which fell in the aftermath of the atomic bombing, though outside the area covered by the national relief law. Another six people in the town of Akitakata and elsewhere will pursue the same procedure with Hiroshima Prefecture. Their action, spearheaded by the Hiroshima Prefecture Atomic Bomb Black Rain Council (chaired by Masaaki Takano) is intended to press the Japanese government to expand the designated area covered by the relief law. If their application is rejected, the 42 people will file a class action lawsuit against the government, appealing the decision.
All applicants insist that they have suffered from diseases, including cancer, as a consequence of their exposure to the black rain outside the “Class 1 Health Examination Special Designated Area (heavy rain area),” as designated by the central government. They are seeking to obtain the certificate, indicating that they correspond to the category “No. 3 Hibakusha (A-bomb survivor)” in the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law, which includes survivors “who were in an environment where they were physically affected by radiation from the atomic bombing.”
On this day, affected residents in Asakita Ward and Saeki Ward and their representatives visited the window at City Hall and submitted the application documents. According to City officials, it is not clear when a conclusion can be reached on the documents since, to date, there have been no examples of applications motivated by exposure to black rain outside the designated area.
Those who were exposed to the black rain within the designated area are given the Medical Checkup Certificate, with which free health checkups are offered. Also, if they develop certain diseases, they are eligible to obtain the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate. On the other hand, such relief is not provided to people who were exposed to black rain outside the designated area. Although the governments of Hiroshima City and Hiroshima Prefecture have requested that the central government expand the designated black rain area to a size roughly six times larger than its current scope, the central government decided to shelve this request in 2012. Instead, in 2013, the government began to offer health consultation services for residents in non-designated areas.
Along with the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate, the applicants also applied for the Medical Checkup Certificate. Mr. Takano said, “We have been telling the truth. As long as the central government won’t listen to us, the only thing we can do is go to court.” Because of the judicial system, they will likely have to file suit against the city and prefectural governments, too. However, their “ultimate purpose” is simply to have the central government expand the designated black rain area.
An official in the City’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department said, “What we can say, for the time being, is that we will screen the application properly based on the current regulations.”
(Originally published on March 24, 2015）
On March 23, 36 people from the city of Hiroshima applied for the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate at City Hall. They claim that their health was damaged because they were exposed to the radioactive “black rain” which fell in the aftermath of the atomic bombing, though outside the area covered by the national relief law. Another six people in the town of Akitakata and elsewhere will pursue the same procedure with Hiroshima Prefecture. Their action, spearheaded by the Hiroshima Prefecture Atomic Bomb Black Rain Council (chaired by Masaaki Takano) is intended to press the Japanese government to expand the designated area covered by the relief law. If their application is rejected, the 42 people will file a class action lawsuit against the government, appealing the decision.
All applicants insist that they have suffered from diseases, including cancer, as a consequence of their exposure to the black rain outside the “Class 1 Health Examination Special Designated Area (heavy rain area),” as designated by the central government. They are seeking to obtain the certificate, indicating that they correspond to the category “No. 3 Hibakusha (A-bomb survivor)” in the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law, which includes survivors “who were in an environment where they were physically affected by radiation from the atomic bombing.”
On this day, affected residents in Asakita Ward and Saeki Ward and their representatives visited the window at City Hall and submitted the application documents. According to City officials, it is not clear when a conclusion can be reached on the documents since, to date, there have been no examples of applications motivated by exposure to black rain outside the designated area.
Those who were exposed to the black rain within the designated area are given the Medical Checkup Certificate, with which free health checkups are offered. Also, if they develop certain diseases, they are eligible to obtain the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate. On the other hand, such relief is not provided to people who were exposed to black rain outside the designated area. Although the governments of Hiroshima City and Hiroshima Prefecture have requested that the central government expand the designated black rain area to a size roughly six times larger than its current scope, the central government decided to shelve this request in 2012. Instead, in 2013, the government began to offer health consultation services for residents in non-designated areas.
Along with the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate, the applicants also applied for the Medical Checkup Certificate. Mr. Takano said, “We have been telling the truth. As long as the central government won’t listen to us, the only thing we can do is go to court.” Because of the judicial system, they will likely have to file suit against the city and prefectural governments, too. However, their “ultimate purpose” is simply to have the central government expand the designated black rain area.
An official in the City’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Department said, “What we can say, for the time being, is that we will screen the application properly based on the current regulations.”
(Originally published on March 24, 2015）
