Joy and tears in Tokyo after atomic bomb survivors win Nobel Peace Prize
Nihon Hidankyo group honored for efforts to rid world of nuclear weapons
Peace Prize renews attention on survivors and Japan's history with nuclear weapons
Concerns about younger generations' awareness of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
By Irene Wang
TOKYO, Oct 11 (Reuters) -Although she was born long after the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by atomic bombs, 58-year-old Yoshiko Watanabe couldn't stop weeping on Friday night when she learned atomic survivors had won the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nihon Hidankyo group of atomic bomb survivors was awarded the Peace Prize in recognition of its efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons and demonstrating, through witness testimony, that the weapons must never be used again, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.
The award is likely to renew attention on the legacy of the survivors, known as "hibakusha", and Japan's painful place in history as the only country to have nuclear weapons used against it. Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the August 1945 bombings.
"They are a group of people delivering the message to the world, so as a Japanese I think this is truly wonderful, and I can only express my gratitude to those who awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Japan," Tokyo resident Watanabe told Reuters, as she wept openly on a street in the Shinbashi district.
"I'm sorry, I can't help but crying."
Nearby, workers handed out copies of a special late edition of the Asahi newspaper that carried the news. While the atomic bombs were a devastating personal tragedy for the more than 106,000 survivors still alive, they also become part of Japan's national consciousness.
Many Japanese still feel the United States should apologise for the bombings, which killed hundreds of thousands and forced Japan's surrender. Following World War Two, Japan renounced the right to wage war itself and maintains self-defence forces. It relies on the United States for protection.
"As a Japanese I feel extremely happy," said 53-year-old Ryosuke Kobayashi, who works at a real estate agency. "I hope this will further raise the global awareness about peace."
While there are still more than 106,000 atomic bomb survivors registered in Japan as of March, given that their average age is 85.6 years, there has long been concern that younger Japanese and people outside the country are becoming less familiar with the terrible lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
"I think there are many people who don’t fully understand what an atomic bomb is, so I think Japan should do the utmost to raise awareness about it," said 78-year-old Tomoko Okuuchi.
"I hope by receiving an international award, it will help us to spread the message even more."
Reporting by Irene Wang; Writing by David Dolan
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
