Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2012 February 29 - March 6 [ANTI-N-ARMS]

Bikini Day rally calls for abolishing nuclear weapons and power plants

On March 1, marking the 58th anniversary of a U.S. hydrogen test explosion at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, the annual Bikini Day assembly in Shizuoka Prefecture adopted a resolution calling for grassroots activities to be strengthened to get rid of nuclear weapons as well as nuclear power stations.

The assembly was held in Shizuoka’s Yaizu City, the homeport of the tuna fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru (#5 Lucky Dragon) which was showered with radioactive fallout from the Bikini Atoll blast in 1954.

About 1,800 people took part in the assembly, which was held as the last event of the three-day Bikini Day-related events, including workshops and an international forum.

Speakers at the assembly included Yaizu City Mayor Shimizu Hiroshi and Anzai Ikuro, representing the Organizing Committee of the World Conference against A and H Bombs. Oishi Matashichi, former crew member of Daigo Fukuryu Maru, testified his experience.

Prior to the assembly, participants marched to the grave of Kuboyama Aikichi, chief radio operator of the fishing boat, and offered flowers in his memory.