Nihon Hidankyo Receives Nobel Peace Prize

Terumi Tanaka, a 92-year-old survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of atomic bomb survivors advocating for a nuclear-free world. In his emotional speech, Tanaka recounted the horrors he witnessed in 1945 and expressed deep concern over the resurgence of nuclear threats from countries like Russia and Israel. He emphasized the need for global citizens to reject nuclear weapons and called for a recommitment to the nuclear taboo, which he fears is under threat. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Nihon Hidankyo's nearly 70 years of advocacy and the vital role of survivor testimonies in maintaining this taboo. Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes highlighted the alarming trend of nuclear arsenal modernization among nuclear powers, urging nations to honor their disarmament commitments. Tanaka's poignant recollections serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating human toll of nuclear warfare and the urgency of the movement against nuclear weapons.