TOKYO — Terumi Tanaka, a 93-year-old survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, is calling on younger generations to take the lead in building a worldwide movement to abolish nuclear weapons — one that “inspires others” and carries the torch of peace into the future.
Tanaka has dedicated more than fifty years to the hibakusha movement, representing survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later. The Nagasaki bombing claimed the lives of five members of his family and left him exposed to radiation.
He first became involved in the survivors’ cause in the early 1970s, later serving as secretary-general of Nihon Hidankyo — formally the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations — for two decades before being named co-chair in 2017.
With nearly eighty years having passed since the bombings and the number of living survivors rapidly declining, Tanaka acknowledged that the era of hibakusha personally recounting their experiences is drawing to a close. “We are now at a time of major transition from our conventional activities based around our testimonies,” he said, emphasizing the need for younger generations to act based on survivors’ stories.
“I hope they will work together and devote their energy to creating a movement that inspires others,” Tanaka urged.
In December 2024, Tanaka addressed the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Norway, describing the abolition of nuclear arms as his “heartfelt desire.” He called the Nobel Peace Prize “a key award with global influence” and stressed the importance of using that platform to remind the world of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons.
While the award has generated interest in Japan regarding the hibakusha movement, Tanaka noted that it has not yet translated into a surge of new participants. “We will create a structure under which people who are interested can thrive,” he said.
Tanaka also reflected on the fact that nuclear weapons have not been used in armed conflict since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, crediting survivors with helping to establish a global “nuclear taboo.” However, he warned, “We cannot say with confidence that nuclear weapons will never be used again. A nuclear war would end the human race. Abolishing nuclear weapons is the biggest challenge for humankind and the most important task for me.”
Marking this significant anniversary year, Tanaka continues to deliver lectures nationwide. He hopes young people will seek to understand how Japan entered war, how it transitioned to peace, and what future they envision for their country.
“I hope they think about what kind of country they want Japan to be,” he said.
Credit: Original reporting by JIJI.
