Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 11, for its tireless efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world. The group, formally known as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, has been advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons and improving support for victims since its founding by hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) in 1956.

This marks the group’s first Nobel Peace Prize win, though they have been nominated in 1985, 1994, and 2015. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Nihon Hidankyo for its persistence in pressuring governments and raising global awareness of the devastating impacts of nuclear warfare.

The Nobel Committee’s statement

Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes explained the significance of the award, stating, “The taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is under pressure.” He emphasized that the committee “wishes to honor all survivors who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace.”

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Recognition of Nihon Hidankyo’s legacy

The Nobel Peace Prize, valued at 11 million Swedish krona (approximately $1.1 million), will be presented to Nihon Hidankyo at a ceremony on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The group joins previous honorees who have championed nuclear disarmament, including the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won in 2017, and Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, awarded in 1995 for their work in reducing the role of nuclear weapons in global politics.

A message of peace amid global conflicts

This year’s Peace Prize comes at a time of heightened global tensions, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-head of Nihon Hidankyo, drew a poignant parallel between the suffering of children in Gaza and the experiences of Japanese civilians during World War II.

“In Gaza, children in blood are being held. It’s like in Japan 80 years ago,” Mimaki remarked. Mimaki expressed hope that the Nobel Prize would amplify the organization’s mission and demonstrate that nuclear disarmament is achievable.

“It would be a great force to appeal to the world that the abolition of nuclear weapons can be achieved,” he said during a press conference in Hiroshima.

With this recognition, Nihon Hidankyo’s decades-long advocacy continues to serve as a beacon for global peace and the eradication of nuclear arms.