October 12, 2024

The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) was named the winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on October 11.

The Nobel Committee explaining the reason for its decision said, “This grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as hibakusha, is receiving the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.”

Hidankyo Representative Director Tanaka Terumi said that he felt very happy to hear the Nobel Committee’s decision.

Tanaka pointed out that Hibakusha have worked to increase public awareness inside and outside Japan of the death, destruction, and suffering in the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He also pointed out that Hibakusha’s joint efforts with concerned citizens have contributed to the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). He stressed the need to strengthen the treaty aimed at abolishing nuclear weapons. In this regard, Tanaka expressed his hope that the Japanese government will not only ratify the TPNW but also become the world’s leader in a movement for the abolition of nuclear arms. He also expressed his hope that together with Hibakusha, many people will raise their voices and take action in order to have Japan sign and ratify the TPNW and to have the world finally abolish nuclear weapons.

***

Japanese Communist Pary Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko on October 11 issued a comment extending her heartiest congratulations to Hidankyo.

In her comment, Tamura expressed her deep respect to Hibakusha who have continued to give their testimonies which reveal the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, and who helped to create a great international movement calling for a total ban on nuclear weapons. Stating that it is particularly significant that Hidankyo won the peace prize amid growing nuclear threats, Tamura said that now is the time for the Japanese government to ratify the TPNW and called on the world’s governments to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons.