This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyō, a Japanese organisation responsible for activism against nuclear weapons.
Nihon Hidankyō is assisted by atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki known as the Hibakusha, a Japanese word for sufferers of the nuclear attacks against Japan during World War 2.
On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States atom bombed the two major Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing between 150,000 and 250,000 people, mostly civilians. This attack remains the only use of nuclear weapons in war to this day. Six days later, the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies, and on September 2, they signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri, ending the devastating war that plagued the world for six years. For many years after World War II, survivors whose lives were deprived by critical health issues from radiation were strictly prohibited from stating the damages and the destruction caused by the atomic bombings by the occupational forces, even after Japan regained sovereignty in 1952.
The Japanese government has recognised 650,000 people as Hibakusha; as of today, 106,825 of them are still alive. During the atomic bombings of Japan, there were also people referred to as double survivors, who sought refuge at Nagasaki after they witnessed the destruction of their hometown, Hiroshima. In March 2009 the Japanese government recognised Tsutomu Yamaguchi as a double Hibakusha, who survived both blasts while exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. He passed away in 2010 from stomach cancer.
The nuclear fallout from the nuclear test of Castle Bravo, conducted by the U.S. military in 1954 near Bikini Atoll, resulted in severe radiation syndrome in residents of neighbouring areas. This event led to the foundation of the Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs. Inspired by this movement, survivors of atomic bombings established Nihon Hidankyō on August 10, 1956, at the second conference of this council in Nakasagi with the objectives of preventing nuclear wars and eliminating all nuclear weapons.
After decades of advocacy for the abolition of nuclear weapons, this organisation was awarded the Nobel 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.” The chairmen of Nihon Hidankyō, who are also survivors of the nuclear blasts, expressed their surprise after winning this year’s prize. In an interview with Aljazeera, Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-chair of Nihon Hidankyō, said he was surprised by the outcome of this year’s event. “Those fighting hard for peace in Gaza would deserve it.” Mimaki said.
Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyō, who accepted the award on behalf of the organisation, expressed his concerns about the ongoing conflict in Gaza by Israel and the Russian aggression in Ukraine, saying:
“The nuclear superpower Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine, and a cabinet member of Israel, in the midst of its unrelenting attacks on Gaza in Palestine, even spoke of the possible use of nuclear arms.”
Rafael Grossi also delivered a speech during the ceremony. In his keynote address, IAEA Director General Mr. Grossi emphasised the critical need for diplomacy and dialogue to mitigate nuclear tensions during his address at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. He highlighted the growing global challenges of nuclear proliferation, the risks of nuclear weapons use, and the importance of peaceful nuclear energy. Grossi called for stronger international cooperation and the role of organisations like the IAEA in promoting nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation. He underscored the urgency of fostering trust among nations to prevent conflict and ensure a safer, more stable world.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel prizes established at Alfred Nobel’s will, and it has been awarded along with prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature annually since 1901.
Written by Mohammad Amin
