People in Hiroshima gather in front of A-bomb Dome to welcome adoption of U.N. treaty outlawing nuclear arms
Jul. 9, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Hiroaki Watanabe, and Shinji Morito, Staff Writers
Hiroshima will soon mark the 72nd anniversary of the atomic bombing. Meanwhile, people in Hiroshima, the A-bombed city, are applauding a historic step toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Responding to the news that a treaty which outlaws nuclear weapons was adopted at United Nations headquarters in New York, antinuclear and peace groups gathered on July 8 to welcome the conclusion of the treaty in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. The participants of the gathering, including A-bomb survivors, savored the significance of the treaty, which was finally achieved after persistent appeals for nuclear abolition were made in and out of Japan.
“This is a global event. I’d like for us to appreciate the efforts made by more than 120 non-nuclear nations. This outcome has brought not only great joy but also relief to the A-bomb survivors,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo), which is chaired by Sunao Tsuboi. Mr. Mimaki, a resident of Kitahiroshima-cho, conveyed strong emotion as he spoke into a microphone. In June, he visited the United States in conjunction with the negotiations that would finalize the treaty. He then submitted about three million signatures, which were gathered internationally, to Elayne Whyte Gómez, the president of the United Nations conference, in support of a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons.
Mr. Mimaki was exposed to radiation from the atomic bomb when he ventured into the city center with his mother and younger brother in search of his father on the day after the A-bomb blast. Since assuming the post of chair of the A-bomb survivors’ group in Kitahiroshima-cho in 2005, he has led initiatives for nuclear abolition with the wish to see the realization of nuclear abolition as soon as possible at a time when the aging A-bomb survivors are passing away one after another.
Prior to the gathering, Mr. Mimaki visited the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims to share the news of the treaty with his predecessors. He said firmly, “I want to create some momentum among citizens and make more effort so that the governments of the nuclear nations, as well as Japan, can adopt a new outlook. This is just the beginning of our journey.”
Twenty-three groups, including two prefectural Hidankyo and other civil groups organized the gathering. About 100 participants came together around a banner with a message welcoming the adoption of the treaty. A joint statement by the groups evaluated the treaty, which mentions the harm and suffering endured by the A-bomb survivors (hibakusha), considering it a reflection of their efforts to identify the true consequences of the nuclear damage and provide aid to those who were affected. Haruko Moritaki, 78, the co-chair of the citizens’ group called the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, read out the statement. Ms. Moritaki said that she felt so thrilled by the outcome that she dashed it off without a wink of sleep.
Ms. Moritaki’s father is the late Ichiro Moritaki (1901-1994), an A-bomb survivor and the first secretary general of the Hiroshima prefectural Hidankyo, who led the movement to ban atomic and hydrogen bombs. She said, “I told my father that our wish has finally come true. I’m sure, up in heaven, he’s very pleased. But I also think he’s even more angry at the Japanese government than I am. If he were alive, he would condemn how the A-bombed nation has tried to elude the treaty.” Ms. Moritaki’s anger is directed at the attitude of the Japanese government, which not only refused to take part in the treaty talks but has also pointedly said that it would not sign the treaty.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, also attended the gathering. He criticized the government’s stance, saying, “I can’t understand the attitude of the Japanese government.” He then added, repeating the fervent wish of the people of Hiroshima on this historic day, “As the A-bombed nation, Japan should sign the treaty and serve as a bridge between the nuclear and non-nuclear nations so that the nuclear nations will be moved to ratify the treaty, too.”
(Originally published on July 9, 2017)
Hiroshima will soon mark the 72nd anniversary of the atomic bombing. Meanwhile, people in Hiroshima, the A-bombed city, are applauding a historic step toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Responding to the news that a treaty which outlaws nuclear weapons was adopted at United Nations headquarters in New York, antinuclear and peace groups gathered on July 8 to welcome the conclusion of the treaty in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. The participants of the gathering, including A-bomb survivors, savored the significance of the treaty, which was finally achieved after persistent appeals for nuclear abolition were made in and out of Japan.
“This is a global event. I’d like for us to appreciate the efforts made by more than 120 non-nuclear nations. This outcome has brought not only great joy but also relief to the A-bomb survivors,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo), which is chaired by Sunao Tsuboi. Mr. Mimaki, a resident of Kitahiroshima-cho, conveyed strong emotion as he spoke into a microphone. In June, he visited the United States in conjunction with the negotiations that would finalize the treaty. He then submitted about three million signatures, which were gathered internationally, to Elayne Whyte Gómez, the president of the United Nations conference, in support of a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons.
Mr. Mimaki was exposed to radiation from the atomic bomb when he ventured into the city center with his mother and younger brother in search of his father on the day after the A-bomb blast. Since assuming the post of chair of the A-bomb survivors’ group in Kitahiroshima-cho in 2005, he has led initiatives for nuclear abolition with the wish to see the realization of nuclear abolition as soon as possible at a time when the aging A-bomb survivors are passing away one after another.
Prior to the gathering, Mr. Mimaki visited the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims to share the news of the treaty with his predecessors. He said firmly, “I want to create some momentum among citizens and make more effort so that the governments of the nuclear nations, as well as Japan, can adopt a new outlook. This is just the beginning of our journey.”
Twenty-three groups, including two prefectural Hidankyo and other civil groups organized the gathering. About 100 participants came together around a banner with a message welcoming the adoption of the treaty. A joint statement by the groups evaluated the treaty, which mentions the harm and suffering endured by the A-bomb survivors (hibakusha), considering it a reflection of their efforts to identify the true consequences of the nuclear damage and provide aid to those who were affected. Haruko Moritaki, 78, the co-chair of the citizens’ group called the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, read out the statement. Ms. Moritaki said that she felt so thrilled by the outcome that she dashed it off without a wink of sleep.
Ms. Moritaki’s father is the late Ichiro Moritaki (1901-1994), an A-bomb survivor and the first secretary general of the Hiroshima prefectural Hidankyo, who led the movement to ban atomic and hydrogen bombs. She said, “I told my father that our wish has finally come true. I’m sure, up in heaven, he’s very pleased. But I also think he’s even more angry at the Japanese government than I am. If he were alive, he would condemn how the A-bombed nation has tried to elude the treaty.” Ms. Moritaki’s anger is directed at the attitude of the Japanese government, which not only refused to take part in the treaty talks but has also pointedly said that it would not sign the treaty.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, also attended the gathering. He criticized the government’s stance, saying, “I can’t understand the attitude of the Japanese government.” He then added, repeating the fervent wish of the people of Hiroshima on this historic day, “As the A-bombed nation, Japan should sign the treaty and serve as a bridge between the nuclear and non-nuclear nations so that the nuclear nations will be moved to ratify the treaty, too.”
(Originally published on July 9, 2017)
