TOKYO, Japan – In a call for global nuclear disarmament, Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
The group, which represents the survivors known as “hibakusha,” has been dedicated to advocating for a nuclear-free world, carrying the message of peace forged through their personal tragedies.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Nihon Hidankyo for its decades-long efforts to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons.
In its citation, the committee lauded the survivors for their powerful testimonies, stating that they “help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons.”
Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, expressed emotional disbelief after the award announcement.
“I can’t believe it’s real,” Mimaki said, struggling to hold back tears during a press conference in Hiroshima.
He emphasized that the prize would give new momentum to their mission to abolish nuclear weapons. “This win will be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons and everlasting peace can be achieved.”
The hibakusha, who have endured discrimination in post-war Japan due to the long-term effects of radiation, continue to fight for a world without nuclear arms.
Despite their visible wounds and illnesses like leukemia, caused by radiation exposure, they have dedicated their lives to spreading their message of peace.
There are 106,825 atomic bomb survivors registered in Japan as of March this year, with an average age of 85.6 years.
As their numbers dwindle, Nihon Hidankyo’s efforts to preserve their stories and warn future generations about the horrors of nuclear warfare have gained even greater urgency.
Without naming specific countries, Joergen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, cautioned nuclear-armed nations against the use of atomic weapons, highlighting the need to reinforce the “nuclear taboo.”
He warned that the global situation was becoming increasingly dangerous, with nuclear powers modernizing their arsenals and escalating threats.
“We see it as very alarming that the nuclear taboo… is being eroded by the rhetoric and actions of certain nations,” Frydnes said in an interview. “These weapons should never be used again anywhere in the world. Nuclear war could mean the end of humanity.”
This warning comes at a time of heightened nuclear tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened nuclear consequences during the conflict in Ukraine, while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to accelerate his country’s nuclear capabilities.
Experts have praised the Nobel Committee’s decision to honor Nihon Hidankyo, with Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, calling it a timely reminder of the perils of nuclear weapons in a world fraught with conflict.
He noted that the award underscores the human suffering caused by nuclear arms, the continued threat they pose, and the fact that the world has managed to avoid their use for nearly 80 years.
This year’s prize also draws parallels to past laureates like ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, who won in 2017, and previous winners such as Elie Wiesel and Russia’s Memorial, by focusing on the importance of remembering atrocities to prevent their recurrence.
Nihon Hidankyo is only the second Japanese organization to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The first was awarded to former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1974 for his role in stabilizing the Pacific region and signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Peace Prize, valued at $1 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prizes.
The group, which represents the survivors known as “hibakusha,” has been dedicated to advocating for a nuclear-free world, carrying the message of peace forged through their personal tragedies.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Nihon Hidankyo for its decades-long efforts to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons.
In its citation, the committee lauded the survivors for their powerful testimonies, stating that they “help us to describe the indescribable, to think the unthinkable, and to somehow grasp the incomprehensible pain and suffering caused by nuclear weapons.”
Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo and a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, expressed emotional disbelief after the award announcement.
“I can’t believe it’s real,” Mimaki said, struggling to hold back tears during a press conference in Hiroshima.
He emphasized that the prize would give new momentum to their mission to abolish nuclear weapons. “This win will be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons and everlasting peace can be achieved.”
The hibakusha, who have endured discrimination in post-war Japan due to the long-term effects of radiation, continue to fight for a world without nuclear arms.
Despite their visible wounds and illnesses like leukemia, caused by radiation exposure, they have dedicated their lives to spreading their message of peace.
There are 106,825 atomic bomb survivors registered in Japan as of March this year, with an average age of 85.6 years.
As their numbers dwindle, Nihon Hidankyo’s efforts to preserve their stories and warn future generations about the horrors of nuclear warfare have gained even greater urgency.
Without naming specific countries, Joergen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, cautioned nuclear-armed nations against the use of atomic weapons, highlighting the need to reinforce the “nuclear taboo.”
He warned that the global situation was becoming increasingly dangerous, with nuclear powers modernizing their arsenals and escalating threats.
“We see it as very alarming that the nuclear taboo… is being eroded by the rhetoric and actions of certain nations,” Frydnes said in an interview. “These weapons should never be used again anywhere in the world. Nuclear war could mean the end of humanity.”
This warning comes at a time of heightened nuclear tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened nuclear consequences during the conflict in Ukraine, while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to accelerate his country’s nuclear capabilities.
Experts have praised the Nobel Committee’s decision to honor Nihon Hidankyo, with Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, calling it a timely reminder of the perils of nuclear weapons in a world fraught with conflict.
He noted that the award underscores the human suffering caused by nuclear arms, the continued threat they pose, and the fact that the world has managed to avoid their use for nearly 80 years.
This year’s prize also draws parallels to past laureates like ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, who won in 2017, and previous winners such as Elie Wiesel and Russia’s Memorial, by focusing on the importance of remembering atrocities to prevent their recurrence.
Nihon Hidankyo is only the second Japanese organization to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The first was awarded to former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1974 for his role in stabilizing the Pacific region and signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Peace Prize, valued at $1 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prizes.
