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Japan Gensuikyo celebrates its 50th founding anniversary

The Japan Council against A and H bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) on September 19 held a meeting to commemorate its 50th anniversary in Tokyo with 250 people attending.

In the symposium entitled "Toward a nuclear-free world," Niihara Shoji, specialist on international affairs, Herminio Lopez Diaz , counsellor of the Cuban embassy in Japan, and Wahid Ahhamed Haggag, secretary of the Egyptian embassy in Japan, each made a presentation and discussed with participants.

Niihara stated that the movement against A and H bombs in the last half century has developed into the greatest-ever peace movement that helped spread the public call for a ban on nuclear weapons in and outside of Japan. He also said that Japan Gensuikyo and Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) have played an important role in the movement, overcoming various difficulties while adhering to the basic goals of getting nuclear weapons abolished.

Three young people presented their messages with a theme "We'll hand atomic bomb experiences over to next generation."

Participants looked back on the half-century-long history of Japan's nuclear abolition movement which had spread their anti-nuclear message worldwide, and discussed about the outlook for nuclear arms abolition.

Reception marking 50th anniversary held

Later in the day, Japan Gensuikyo held a reception marking its 50th founding anniversary in Tokyo, attended by ambassadors from Cuba, Egypt, Laos and Vietnam, and 150 persons from various organizations.

Speaking on behalf of the JCP, Ichida Tadayoshi, secretariat head, referred to the declaration of the international meeting of this year's world conference and pointed out that the Japan Gensuikyo has played a major role in the struggle against nuclear weapons that put the survival of humanity at risk. He also added that the JCP will make every effort in and outside the Diet in firm solidarity with the participants.

Japan Gensuikyo was founded on September 19, 1955. The movement against A and H bombs, triggered by the U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll in March 1954, soon spread nationwide and developed into the first World Conference against A and H Bombs in August 1955. Japan Gensuikyo was established as part of this movement working for the "prevention of nuclear warfare, the elimination of nuclear weapons, and support for and solidarity with Hibakusha." -- Akahata, September 20, 2005