Photo/Illutration Terumi Tanaka, center, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo (the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations), responds to a question in a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Dec. 24. (Koichi Ueda)

A hibakusha representing Nihon Hidankyo reported that the Nobel Peace Prize committee awarded the prize to his group a year earlier than planned to amplify global calls to abolish nuclear weapons.

Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo (the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations), revealed the change at a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Dec. 24.

Michiko Kodama and Jiro Hamasumi, both assistant secretaries-general of the organization, also attended the news conference.

Representatives of Nihon Hidankyo, an organization composed of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, visited Oslo, Norway, from Dec. 8 to Dec. 13, where they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

During their visit, the delegation also delivered a speech at a local high school and advocated for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

A few days after the ceremony, they were invited to a dinner with Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and other members.

Speaking at the news conference, Tanaka shared that during the dinner, the committee members revealed the reasoning behind their decision to award Nihon Hidankyo the Nobel Peace Prize.

The award had initially been considered for next year, but the committee eventually decided to move it up, saying that “waiting until next year would be too late.”

They also hoped to “amplify global public opinion” on the abolition of nuclear weapons by presenting it this year.

Tanaka also explained why he went off-script during his speech at the award ceremony, where he said, “Let me repeat what I have said one more time. I want you to know that the Japanese government has not provided any compensation for those who were killed in the atomic bombings.”

Tanaka clarified, “I did not mean to repeatedly bring up the issue of the government’s compensation.”

“The thought suddenly came to me that it is wrong to think that citizens must be sacrifices for their country. That mistaken belief is widespread around the world,” he said.

He continued, “What I truly wanted to convey was the need to call on the world to prevent citizens from being forced to endure sacrifices.”

“There’s a pervasive sense that people must endure government policies, but that’s not what democracy is about,” he said. “I wanted to emphasize that, which is why those words came out.”

The third meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is scheduled for March next year.

Attention is focused on how the Japanese government will respond, including the possibility of participating as an observer.

Tanaka also said that negotiations are under way for a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba early next year.

He emphasized his intention to urge the prime minister to address how Japan, as the world’s only country to have suffered from atomic bombings, will take a leadership role in the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Looking ahead to next year, which marks 80 years since the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, Tanaka expressed his resolve, saying, “Eighty years is a significant milestone, so we want to make the most of it to strengthen our movement.”

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