What did Kuboyama die of?

Japan Press Weekly

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

What did Kuboyama die of?

More than 80 people on February 22 took part in a meeting in Tokyo to commemorate the March 1 Bikini tragedy with the theme, "What did Kuboyama die of?"

Kuboyama Aikichi, a radio operator of Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon #5), was showered by radiation fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954 and died six months later due to radiation exposure.

The Daigo Fukuryu Maru Peace Society, which operates the Tokyo Metropolitan Daigo Fukuryu Maru Exhibition Hall, sponsored the event to help the public understand what happened to the crew members of the tuna fishing boat.

In the gathering, Kikima Hajime, a medical doctor who heads Co-op Kitahama Clinic in Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture and who has been researching Daigo Fukuryu Maru crew members' health problems, gave a lecture.

Citing Kuboyama Aikichi's autopsy report, Kikima pointed out that a large quantity of radioactive materials was discovered in his internal organs during the post-mortem examination.

Kikima criticized the U.S. government for concluding that Kuboyama died of serum hepatitis caused by a blood infusion applied to the treatment of radiation illnesses, denying any effects from radiation exposure.

He said, "Kuboyama suffered from hepatitis due to the weakening of the immune system and multiple organ failure as a result of radiation exposure. I believe it should be called liver disorder caused by radiation exposure. It is a medical condition that has never been confirmed in any Hibakusha (atomic bomb victim)."

A student who attended the meeting said, "My generation must pass the horrible facts of atomic and hydrogen bombs to the next generation. In order to do so, first of all, I want to learn to think about it from various points of view."

- Akahata, February 22, 2009