Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Hiroshima and Nagasaki Survivors’ Group Nihon Hidankyo
OSLO – Nihon Hidankyo, a group representing survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was honored with this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless advocacy for a nuclear-free world. The award was presented on Tuesday at a ceremony in Oslo City Hall attended by Norway’s King Harald, Queen Sonja, and other dignitaries.
Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, accepted the award on behalf of the group, urging younger generations to continue the fight against nuclear weapons. “Ten years from now, there may only be a handful of us able to give testimony as firsthand survivors,” Tanaka said. “The next generation must build on our efforts to strengthen the movement for a nuclear-free world.”
The Fight Against the “Nuclear Taboo” Erosion
Tanaka warned of the growing threats to global nuclear norms, citing the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, where nuclear threats have been implied. He noted that approximately 4,000 nuclear warheads are on immediate alert worldwide, and today’s nuclear weapons are exponentially more destructive than those used in 1945.
“In addition to the civilian casualties, I am infinitely saddened and angered that the ‘nuclear taboo’ risks being broken,” Tanaka said, emphasizing the urgency of preserving the global standard against the use of atomic weapons.
Legacy of the Survivors
The average age of Japan’s atomic bomb survivors is now 85, and many fear their testimony may soon be lost. Tanaka, who was 13 at the time of the Nagasaki bombing, shared his harrowing experience of surviving the explosion and witnessing the deaths of five family members and countless others in its aftermath.
“The deaths I witnessed at that time could hardly be described as human deaths. Even in war, such killing and maiming must never be allowed to happen,” he said.
Nihon Hidankyo’s other co-chairs, Shigemitsu Tanaka, 84, and Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, were also present at the ceremony. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki claimed an estimated 210,000 lives and left survivors advocating for a nuclear-free world to prevent similar tragedies.
Nihon Hidankyo’s recognition highlights the importance of survivor testimony in advancing global disarmament efforts and inspiring a new generation to continue their mission.