Awarded for its dedication to nuclear disarmament, the group represents survivors’ enduring testimony against nuclear weapons.
Oslo, Norway – Nihon Hidankyo, Japan’s atomic bomb survivors’ group, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its tireless advocacy for a nuclear-free world. Recognized for “demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again,” the group’s members, also known as Hibakusha, offer living proof of the destruction caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The announcement, made by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, marks a symbolic recognition ahead of the 80th anniversary of the bombings. The tragic events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki claimed over 200,000 lives and left survivors with lasting physical and psychological scars.
‘A Great Force for Change’
Tomoyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo and a Hiroshima bombing survivor, expressed shock and gratitude upon hearing the news at Hiroshima City Hall. “Is it really true? Unbelievable!” Mimaki said, adding that the recognition would strengthen the group’s efforts to end nuclear weapons worldwide. “It would be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons can be achieved,” he said.
Kazumi Matsui, mayor of Hiroshima, emphasized the importance of survivors’ testimonies, noting that the Hibakusha are aging and that fewer remain to share their firsthand experiences. “Hibakusha are fast aging, and there are fewer and fewer people able to testify to the meaninglessness of possessing atomic bombs and their absolute evil,” he said.
Global Impact of Survivors’ Advocacy
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Hibakusha’s commitment to nuclear disarmament “the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement.” He praised their resilience and dedication to ensuring the horrors of nuclear warfare are not forgotten.
The Nobel committee underscored the urgency of Nihon Hidankyo’s message in a world where nuclear threats are again on the rise. “They help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons,” the committee stated.
A Timely Message Amid Rising Nuclear Tensions
Awarding Nihon Hidankyo comes as countries continue to modernize and expand their nuclear arsenals, and as new nations consider acquiring nuclear capabilities. Frydnes warned that “threats of use” were eroding the global “nuclear taboo,” noting the immense, civilization-ending danger nuclear weapons pose.
Mimaki urged world leaders to recognize the “fallacy” of nuclear weapons as a means to peace, pointing to potential threats from countries like Russia and Israel. “It has been said that because of nuclear weapons, the world maintains peace. But nuclear weapons can be used by terrorists,” he cautioned.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also emphasized the significance of the award, saying, “The spectre of Hiroshima and Nagasaki still looms over humanity. This Nobel Peace Prize sends a powerful message. We have the duty to remember. And an even greater duty to protect the next generations from the horrors of nuclear war.”
Nobel Recognition and Ceremonial Award
The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, carries a cash prize of 11 million Swedish krona ($1.1 million) and will be presented to Nihon Hidankyo at a ceremony on December 10.
