Nihon Hidankyo, an atomic bomb survivors group based in Hiroshima and Nagasaki prefectures, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 11 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons – the first time in 50 years that a Japanese person or group has received the prize.
Joergen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said it awarded the organization with the honor for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.
“The extraordinary efforts of Nihon Hidankyo and other representatives of the hibakusha have contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo,” said Frydnes. “It is therefore alarming that today this taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is under pressure.”
The announcement comes ahead of next year’s 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of the two cities, which killed an estimated 210,000 people in total.
The prize last came to Japan in 1974, with the honor going to former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato – who was also the first Asian laureate – for signing a nuclear nonproliferation treaty in 1970, as well as for the Three Non-Nuclear Principles he had advocated. (The Japan Times)
毎週届く！
