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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

'Let me be the last H-bomb victim'

A memorial service took place on September 23 for Kuboyama Aikichi, who died after being exposed to radiation from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific in 1954.

About 200 participants marched in demonstration through Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture to Kotoku-in, a temple where Kuboyama is buried, chanting in chorus, "No more Bikinis, No more Daigo-Fukuryumarus! (5th Lucky Dragon)"

At Kuboyama's tomb, they pledged to further increase the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons in response to Kuboyama's last words and his wife Suzu's desire to get all nuclear weapons eliminated from the world while Hibakusha and their families are still alive.

Tomoto Takao, mayor of Yaizu City, sent a message to the service.

Kuboyama was the chief radio operator of the Yaizu-based Daigo-Fukuryumaru, a tuna fishing boat that was in the vicinity of the U.S. H-bomb test site at the time. His last words were, "Let me be the last nuclear bomb victim." -- Akahata, September 24, 2005