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

Government appeals court decision recognizing Hibakusha's disease as A-bomb related

In a lawsuit in which nine atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) claim their diseases should be recognized as caused by atomic bombings, the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry appealed on May 22 a district court ruling that met the plaintiffs' demand, insisting that the ruling is based on a different scientific understanding from that of the government.

The Osaka District Court on May 12 ordered the government to revoke its decision to reject all nine plaintiffs' applications for official recognition of their illnesses as A-bomb related.

Odaka Miyoko, an 81-year-old plaintiff, said, "When I heard of the government decision, I couldn't believe my ears. I wonder if the government is waiting for us to die by prolonging the lawsuit. We'll continue to exert all our strength, however weak we may be, on behalf of all Hibakusha."

By setting strict standards, the government has refused to recognize cancers and hepatic function disorders of many Hibakusha as being caused by the A-bombings. Similar concerted lawsuits have been filed by Hibakusha throughout Japan.

The Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Japan Hidankyo) on the same day issued a statement of protest jointly with five other organizations, including a national organization supporting Hibakusha's lawsuits and their lawyers' group. The statement stressed that the government had previously lost seven similar cases filed by Hibakusha. Pointing out that 26 plaintiffs of the concerted lawsuit have died, it demanded that the government drastically revise its recognition system.

The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) sent a statement requesting withdrawal of the appeal to Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro and Health Minister Kawasaki Jiro.
- Akahata, May 23, 2006