September 16, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira and JCP member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie met with other political parties’ Dietmembers at the House of Representatives Members’ Office Building on September 15 to discuss efforts to ensure that the Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Relief Act applies to all A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) living abroad.

Since Hibakusha are aging, relief measures for them, whether in Japan or abroad, cannot wait.

The lawmakers agreed to urge the Japanese government to explore ways to extend the law to all Hibakusha living abroad.

It was reported that as of 2018, 60 Hibakusha were still alive in North Korea. Kim Jin-ho, a Korean Hibakusha living in Hiroshima, said that his organization submits a petition to the prime minister every year, calling for relief for overseas Hibakusha.

JCP Koike stated, “The fact that no measures have been taken for Hibakusha in North Korea is a basic human rights issue. The JCP will do its utmost to resolve this.”

In Brazil, the Japanese government pays for the medical treatment that Hibakusha receive in hospitals. However, Japan pays the hospitals the lesser of two amounts, either the cost in Japan or in Brazil. As a result, Hibakusha in Brazil must cover the difference. The call from Hibakusha in Brazil for improvement on how they are treated was also reported.