48th anniversary of H-bomb victim's death

A memorial service was held in Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture on September 23 for the late Kuboyama Aikichi, who died after he was exposed to radiation from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific in 1954. Kuboyama was a crew member of the Yaizu-based Daigo-Fukuryumaru (5th Lucky Dragon), a tuna fishing boat that was in the area at the time.

About 250 participants, including atomic bomb victims, marched in demonstration from JR Yaizu Station to Kotoku-in, a temple where Kuboyama is buried. With white chrysanthemums in their hands, and singing songs of peace, they firmly pledged to engage in further efforts to get nuclear weapons eliminated from the world.

At Kuboyama's tomb, a member of the March 1 Bikini Day Rally-Shizuoka Committee stated, "We are afraid that a U.S. strike against Iraq may produce more victims of nuclear weapons.

The need now is for us to recall what Kuboyama said as his last words--'let me be the last A- and H-bomb victim," he stressed.

A message from Tomoto Takao, mayor of Yaizu City, was read.

In an afternoon rally, a physician made a report on a health survey of Fiji's former soldiers who were exposed to nuclear fallout from British test explosions on Christmas Island.

Anzai Ikuro, member of the Organizing Committee of the World Conference against A and H Bombs, made a keynote speech, stressing the urgent need to make efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. (end)