Since its establishment in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the devastating effects of nuclear weapons, based on the personal testimonies of atomic bomb survivors. Through their advocacy, they contributed significantly to international disarmament discussions.
Photo: AP/Sky News
In a significant recognition of their decades-long advocacy, Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The organization was formed in 1956, prompted in part by the United States’ testing of a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean in 1954.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the group’s extraordinary efforts “to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons” and “to remind the world of the pressing need for nuclear disarmament”. The Committee said: “This grassroots movement is receiving the peace prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.”
Raising the Voice of Peace in a Time of Turmoil
The prize comes at a time when nuclear tensions are increasing globally, with several countries pursuing or expanding their nuclear arsenals. The recognition is seen as a message to nuclear-armed nations to reconsider the dangers posed by these weapons. Terumi Tanaka, a leading figure in Nihon Hidankyo, expressed hope that the Nobel Prize would lend greater weight to their anti-nuclear message.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of the organization, spoke emotionally about the award, drawing attention to the ongoing suffering in conflict zones like Israel and Gaza. In a moving statement, he described the dire conditions faced by children in these regions: “Children are being covered in blood, living every day without food, and seeing their schools, stations, and bridges destroyed.” He criticized world leaders for prioritizing war, stating, “The people are wishing for peace. But politicians insist on waging war, saying, ‘We won’t stop until we win.'”
Mimaki also expressed his firm belief that nuclear weapons make peace impossible, noting, “It is impossible to maintain peace in a world with nuclear weapons.” He highlighted the increasing global nuclearization, referencing not only the conflicts in the Middle East but also ongoing threats from countries like Russia and North Korea, which continue to expand their nuclear capabilities
Nihon Hidankyo’s historical witnesses have helped to generate and consolidate widespread opposition to nuclear weapons around the world by drawing on personal stories, creating educational campaigns based on their own experience, and issuing urgent warnings against the spread and use of nuclear weapons.
For more on Mimaki’s reflections you can read the full coverage here.