A-bomb victims' group Hidankyo renews no-nukes pledge ahead of 70th anniv.
NAGASAKI (Kyodo) -- Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors on Saturday vowed to continue its campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons, as
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, also known as Hidankyo, recently pledged to persist in its efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons as it marked the 70th anniversary of its founding. Jiro Hamasumi, the group's secretary general, declared their intention to hold a celebration in Nagasaki, where the organization was established, to reaffirm their commitment to prevent future atomic bombing victims.
Hidankyo, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024, was set up on August 10, 1956, the day after the 11th anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing during World War II.
The commemoration began with a moment of silence and included a reading of a poem by a local high school student about the desire for a nuclear-free world. A performance by a Korean troupe of singers and dancers was also showcased. Terumi Tanaka, a 94-year-old co-chair of Hidankyo, emphasized that the organization's work was far from complete as political leaders advocate for increased military spending.
Hamasumi, an 86-year-old Nagasaki atomic bomb survivor, lamented Japan's lack of support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which has been signed by 100 countries, yet Japan remains outside the agreement.
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