Hiroshima Hibakusha living in U.S. to fight in court for medical allowance

An atomic bomb survivor (Hibakusha) living in the U.S. filed a lawsuit on December 17 demanding that Hiroshima Mayor Akiba Tadatoshi revoke his rejection of her application for medical allowance.

Morinaka Teruko, who was exposed to radiation in Hiroshima in 1945, is the first U.S.-living Hibakusha to bring such case to court. Although she requested the allowance in September, Hiroshima City turned down her application because she was not living in Japan when she applied.

The A-bomb Victims Relief Law requires Hibakusha living abroad to come to Japan to apply for medical allowance. Such a requirement prevents aging Hibakusha from applying. (end)