(Image source from: AFP)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation based in Japan that works on atomic bomb survivors. "This grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, is receiving the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again," posted the Nobel Committee.
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Survivors Organisations, known as Nihon Hidankyo, represents the people who survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Established in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo emerged when the world was grappling with the devastating power of nuclear weapons. The survivors, called hibakusha, faced various challenges, including radiation poisoning, stigma, and inadequate government support for their medical needs. Despite these difficulties, Nihon Hidankyo was founded out of the survivors' determination to seek justice and healing, not only for themselves but also for future generations. The organization's dual mission was to push for recognition and support for the atomic bomb survivors, and to advocate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Nihon Hidankyo demanded that the Japanese government acknowledge the country's responsibility for the war that led to the atomic bombings, and provide state compensation for the affected families and survivors.
The Japanese government has had to concede to the demands of the Hibakusha, such as enacting laws to provide medical care and assistance for those affected by the atomic bombings. Nihon Hidankyo, not just a domestic organization, has become a global moral voice in the anti-nuclear movement. Members of the organization have traveled worldwide, sharing their testimonies at the United Nations, meeting with foreign leaders, and participating in international peace conferences. Terumi Tanaka, now 92 years old, shared his experience on the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 11, 2024
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2024 #NobelPeacePrize to the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo. This grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, is receiving the peace prize for its… pic.twitter.com/YVXwnwVBQO
Tanaka, who was 13 years old during the Nagasaki atomic bombing, shared his harrowing experience. When the bomb struck, he was upstairs in his house, 3.2 kilometers from the center. He saw a massive flash and passed out after lying on the floor. Miraculously, he was unharmed, as the nearby glass doors remained intact. Three days later, Tanaka found his relatives, some of whom had died from burns or radiation sickness. In total, five of his family members were killed. The aftermath was a horrific scene, with many injured victims and unattended bodies. Tanaka's testimony, along with other hibakusha activists, helped draw attention to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted by the United Nations in 2017.
The organization celebrates the treaty signing as a major stride toward their ultimate objective. One of the group's most enduring conflicts has been with the Japanese government. Despite Japan being the only country ever attacked with atomic weapons, its government has taken a delicate stance on the matter. While advocating for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, Japan remains under the US nuclear defense, a reality that Nihon Hidankyo continues to challenge. "Japan should lead the way in nuclear disarmament," says Tanaka. "We have witnessed the worst of it. We must be the first to reject it."
