habakusha

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

Hibakusha allowed to apply for benefits from abroad

The Japanese Health Ministry on November 30 set up a system enabling atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) living overseas to apply for benefits under the Hibakusha Aid Law without coming to Japan.

The government measure was in response to the Fukuoka High Court ruling in September certifying that Hibakusha residing abroad should be able to apply for health care and funeral expenses without returning to Japan.

The 3,600 Hibakusha living abroad, including South and North Koreans and Japanese who emigrated to other countries, were required to come to Japan to apply for the Hibakusha benefits. This requirement has made it difficult for aging Hibakusha with various illnesses and unable to travel to apply for the benefits.

The Japanese Communist, Democratic, and Social Democratic parties jointly submitted a bill to revise the Hibakusha Aid Law to cover Hibakusha living outside Japan.

Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Koike Akira said that although the latest government measure is one step forward, Hibakusha still have to come to Japan to receive the Hibakusha certificate which is necessary for them to apply for the benefits. He said that the government should revise the Hibakusha Aid Law to allow them to apply for the certificate from abroad as well.
- Akahata, December 1, 2005