Japan baseball legend and A-bomb survivor Isao Harimoto urged nuclear abolition to the end

Former professional baseball player Isao Harimoto, who passed away at the age of 86 on September 9, urged for nuclear abolition shortly before his death. In a telephone interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, Harimoto reiterated that nuclear weapons must be eliminated worldwide and that wars fought with such weapons should never occur.

After retiring from baseball, Harimoto became a frequent television commentator, known for his stern yet warm speaking style. However, in his later years, he emphasized the urgent need to abolish nuclear weapons, going beyond his role as a sports community opinion leader. After keeping silent for many years about his atomic bombing experience in Hiroshima, Harimoto began speaking about it after turning 60, driven by a single wish to ensure that Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be the last places to suffer from atomic attacks in warfare.