hibakusha3

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

Hidankyo observes 50th founding anniversary

The Japan Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) 50th founding anniversary was celebrated on August 9 in Nagasaki City by many atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and their supporters attending from around the country.

Tsuboi Tadashi, Hidankyo co-chair, in his speech said, "The past 50 years have not elapsed without our steady and continuous efforts in the Hidankyo movement."

Referring to the recent Hibakusha's victoriy in a lawsuit in Hiroshima that followed the one in Osaka, Tsuboi said, "With the 50th anniversary as a milestone, we will do all we can to make our call for the abolition of nuclear weapons be heard throughout the world."

Hidankyo is the only nation-wide organization of Hibakusha, composed of Hibakusha organizations in all 47 Japanese prefectures. Since it was founded on August 10 in Nagasaki City, Hidankyo has continued to demand state compensation for the damage and after-effects of the atomic bombings while calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The average age of Hibakusha is now 73.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat head Ichida Tadayoshi spoke at the gathering in solidarity with the Hidankyo movement and pledged an all-out effort to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons and a drastic review and improvement of the government system of certification of Hibakusha with atomic bomb diseases (See separate item).
- Akahata, August 10, 2006