Government accepts court ruling that aid law be applied to Hibakusha living outside Japan

The Japanese government has decided not to appeal to the supreme court against a high court ruling that Hibakusha (A-bomb victims) Aid Law should be applied to Hibakusha who now live outside Japan.

The Osaka High Court decision that upheld the demand of Kwak Kwi Hoon, a 78-year-old South Korean who was bombed in Hiroshima, was established on December 18, as Health, Welfare and Labor Minister Sakaguchi Chikara announced the decision.

Plaintiff Kwak Kwi Hoon commented that this was a historic moment for all Hibakusha living outside Japan.

Kwak was drafted in 1944 and atom-bombed while enduring forced labor in Hiroshima. After the war, he returned to Korea and came to Japan in 1998 to get medical treatment. Health care allowances under the Hibakusha relief law was provided to him but the payment was ended when he returned to South Korea.

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo) issued a statement on the day, appreciating the government decision not to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Hidankyo in the statement called on the government to make back payments of medical care allowances to all eligible Hibakusha abroad.

The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) in a statement said that consecutive government failure in lawsuits concerning the Hibakusha aid law show that government administrations have callously disregarded the actual conditions of Hibakusha.

It demanded that the government policy on relief for Hibakusha be drastically improved so that state compensation is ensured for all survivors.

The Dietmembers group calling for the law to be applied to Hibakusha living abroad said that not only medical care allowances but also equal treatment under the law be given to the survivors living out of Japan. (end)