A group of Japanese atomic bomb survivors, who were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision to initiate nuclear weapons testing, deeming it “completely unacceptable.” Over 200,000 individuals lost their lives when the US deployed two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during World War II, marking the sole instance of nuclear weapons being used in warfare. These survivors, known as “hibakusha,” have endured enduring physical and mental anguish along with the societal stigma attached to being victims.
Following Trump’s declaration on Thursday that he had instructed the Pentagon to commence nuclear weapons testing to match China and Russia, Nobel laureate Nihon Hidankyo expressed their disapproval by sending a protest letter to the US embassy in Japan. The survivors’ group conveyed in the letter, obtained by AFP on Friday, that the directive contradicts global efforts towards a nuclear-free peaceful world and is entirely unacceptable.
Nagasaki’s Mayor also condemned Trump’s directive, asserting that it undermines the painstaking efforts of individuals worldwide striving for a nuclear weapons-free world. Mayor Shiro Suzuki raised concerns over Trump’s eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize should nuclear testing proceed immediately. Hidankyo, a grassroots organization of hibakusha, was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 and emphasized the need for countries to eliminate nuclear weapons during their acceptance speech.
Additionally, two other atomic bomb survivor groups based in Hiroshima issued statements of protest, demanding that no such experiments be carried out. The Hiroshima Congress against A-and-H Bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikin) and the Hiroshima Prefecture Federation of A-Bomb Victims Associations jointly expressed in a statement sent to the US embassy in Japan that in a nuclear conflict, humanity as a whole suffers, underscoring the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons as witnessed in the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by another on Nagasaki three days later, leading to Japan’s surrender and the conclusion of World War II. Approximately 140,000 individuals perished in Hiroshima, and around 74,000 in Nagasaki, many succumbing to radiation-related illnesses. Trump’s announcement on nuclear testing raised numerous questions, particularly concerning whether he was alluding to testing weapons systems or actually conducting test explosions, a practice the US has refrained from since 1992.
Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, disclosed this week her intention to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, expressing admiration for the US leader during his visit to Tokyo.